How can I get out of working Christmas day?

[colditz]

Dp is a chef, and already working, and I have nobody to leave ds with, also it will b the first Christmas he understands.

But I have a horrible feeling my boss is going to insist upon it....

I am pregnant, but maternity leave not due to start until feb time.

I have said I'm not doing it, but I didn't do it last year either, and it's going to cause a huge row. How can I avoid that row? Because I am not going in!

Go to the doctors about a week before Xmas and say your back's sore. Get a sick line for 2 weeks. Bugger all your employer can do.

offer to wrok another day tha no-one else want to..i.e. new years day??

you can always request parental leave.....which has to be in a block of 5 days and is unpaid....but it would gurantee you your xmas with ds. (if you have under 5s you get 20 days a year for illness and when childcare is impossible...i think.)

They can refuse parental leave for business reasons, which they would legitimatly have, as they always have problems getting people to work Christmas.

The 'sore back' line is ok, but would get eviols for months from my boss, who would just know.

Well I think the fact that there will be nobody to look after your child will surely rule you out??

What about co-workers? Anyone nice that will cover for you?

You will have to be careful on throwing a sickie if you have asked before hand for cover though, they will smell a rat. If you are sure that you are in line and no-one will cover, keep stum then get high blood pressure or something confirmed from you midwife just before.

I was under the impression that you cannot be orced to work Xmas, Boxing or easter day, that it had to be voluntary.
But I guess some jobs require you more than others.

Go for the sick option.

what do you do colditz? Are there no other staff you can swap with? Is it a restaurant?

Discrimination on the grounds of religion???????

Or emergency (unpaid) leave for dependents due to a break down in childcare arrangements????

colditz are you catholic at all? Only because my dh used to get threatened with working good friday but argued that because he is a catholic and does go to church that do they couldnt make him work, as they wouldnt make a muslim or hindu work one of their religious festivals?

No, not really religious at all. And it's not even a restaurant, it's a residential home, so there is the huge guilt factor if you don't go in.