Probably - but people too lazy to cook their own christmas dinner are spoiling mine

[SheinIsShite]

My youngest DS is 16 and works in a pub kitchen. Dish washing, food prep, plating starters/dessert. He is contracted to do 8 hours a week which is usually OK. Obviously this time of year is busy and because he is not at school he has more shifts.

School finished on Friday, he worked Friday evening. And Saturday, and Sunday. Did an extra shift on Monday afternoon as they were short. Yesterday was rostered 11-6 but got home at 22.50 as they were so busy and needed to prep for the 700 covers they have booked today between 12 and 4.30pm. He starts again at 10am this morning, and although they have said he'll be done by 6.30 I don't believe that so he will more than likely miss our family meal.

So all of you paying £85 a head for Christmas lunch in a very standard chain pub, thanks for that.

Totally appreciate that some people have to work and we are all grateful to the police, fire, midwives etc. But going out for your Chrtistmas lunch is not essential.

We started going out for Christmas dinner since my mum died young and we couldn’t bare sitting in the house anymore as Christmas just feels so miserable. Trust me we tried! So it’s not always laziness. It’s a change of routine for us and makes the day bare able. We always tip well and are grateful to the staff, but equally it’s part of the job and the pubs do well from it!

What about those who are disabled and can't cook a whole Christmas Day meal? Are they meant to not have one?

@SheinIsShite hopefully, he may finish on time today, I’m sure he will keep in touch anyway if not, I hope you all end up having a dinner together as a family later

People eat out at Christmas, this is news to you?

You should be proud of your DS. You probably are.

Also the people willing to pay £85 for Christmas lunch.. and the people willing to work in the pubs that serve it, are the ones keeping this economy afloat.

I’m divorced and neither my ex husband nor I want the awkwardness of cooking for each other and having each other in our homes.

We do get on well enough to spend Christmas lunch together at a pub and this is what our DC want and what works for them and means they don’t get torn between their parents each year.

I hope that gives you some insight into how now all families are the same as yours.

Nobody ever needs to go to the pub for lunch, do you ever go out op?

I wondered that. 700 seems like a typo.

I don't know if you've worked in care so apologies if you have and will already know how some people really don't give a shit once they have carers in to see mum or dad.

I was absolutely astonished when I started the job in 2017 of the number of clients who were stuck in one room of a 3-4 bedroom house because they weren't able enough to even be hoisted into a chair, and their own (adult) children hardly visit them.... I think it's disgusting that they leave their parents to the hand of the carers only and rarely made an appearance in their own childhood homes (obvs I know not everyone's childhood home is a happy one). I couldn't do that to my mum or dad. Even if I couldn't care for them, I'd still see them as often as I can.

I can't be bothered to comment.
Merry Christmas to y'all!
😁

Without those paying customers he wouldn't have a job at all. The Christmas period funds pubs for the year!

So all of you paying £85 a head for Christmas lunch in a very standard chain pub, thanks for that.

Oh we’ve paid much more than that for a lovely hotel, we’re really looking forward to it! Don’t work in hospitality if you don’t want to work Christmas Day, it’s simple. All of my children worked in hospitality while at Uni, they loved the tips and yes they often worked Christmas Day. Two have qualified now in different careers and are working today, we’ll celebrate at a later date with them.

We’re not lazy btw we just can’t be arsed to cook this year because it’s our first without children at home after years of hosting up to 25 people. We shall very much enjoy our lunch without cooking or washing up. The staff will be tipped well for their trouble today. YABU OP.

Very simple, easy answer to this - don't work there or any job where there are shifts on Christmas day. i
It's hardly rocket science to work out that solution.
Why shouldn't people go out to eat? If places offer that service why not use it?
Pp first post answering nailed it

You know what? I actually agree with you to an extent. It really is rubbish. I remember being that 18 year old working in a pub whilst at uni, & the sheer pressure to work Christmas day was immense- you either did it or you lost your job.

DS1 also at uni working in a pub, was lucky to work yesterday (7am for stock shift) & have time to get home. He's been trying to wangle out of Boxing Day (as he's working across the bells at Hogmanay & you're not supposed to do both), but has at least managed to start at 6pm, so he can come to the family day for a few hours.

I get that he's paid for working & does work with a great bunch of students, but it's hard. I get it OP.

theres plenty of what could be described as non essential people working today - a lot of call centres will be open, like banks, sky, virgin - people who work in petrol stations etc

the whole country doesnt shut down cos its christmas day

Especially as the 'pandemic' killed so many of the pub industry.

There’s be even less of you got your way as all the pubs would shut down.

Good for him.

Shame about his mam.

I work in fire and will be going to a pub for lunch because I don't have time to cook my own. I'll tip the staff generously. I also don't want your gratitude, hth.

Well he doesn’t have to work in a pub! If you choose to work in hospitality, working long hours over Christmas are all part of it. If people didn’t choose to eat out then pubs would close and people would lose their jobs 🤷‍♀️

Do you understand that without the customers, there would be no job for him?!

this thread is wild!

Merry Christmas everyone!!

She already is.

Did you stamp your foot as you typed this OP?

Absolutely ridiculous post 🤣🤣🤣

Surely your son wants to work. He has full autonomy to leave his job at any time he wants to spend time with his mum eating Christmas dinner but he probably values having a job and having his own money to spend. Bloody good for him and good for him for working today.

You are ridiculous.