christmas eve??

[noogles]

Hi guys, I have a bit of a query. I currently work part time in the evenings. My work have told me that everyone has to work xmas eve, the only problem is,is that I have no babysitter,my dp is working until 6 and my mum (who normally has my ds) is also working a full day,so neither will be home for me to go to work. We have no other close relatives that would be able to have our ds. I did say that possibly I could take ds to work with me,but thinking about it I dont really think that I want to take him with me (ds is 4,i work in a shop). Could anyone give me some advice on my rights or any thoughts??

I am working on New Years Day as this was the only one I was available for.

what wuld you normally do ? is this unusual for you, dh and your mum to e working?

xmas eve isnt a public holiday.

No,since having my son my dp has taken xmas off as holiday,but this year they have stopped this where he works and so he has to work. My mum always works xmas eve all day.

but who would normally look after your ds then if you ar all working? or has this never happened before? (i dont mean on xmas eve, i mena on any day at all)

My mum finishes at 2pm on a normal day and I start work at 4pm so my mum has my son when she finishes. I only work in the evenings.

On xmas eve my shop is only open until 7pm. My dp wont get home until 6:30 and my mum at 7:30pm

well in that case you will either have to find someone else or take carers' leave.

is it making a difference that its xmas eve?

xmas eve isnt a public holiday

as I have already said there is no one else I can ask to have ds. I am aware that xmas eve isnt a public holiday. I just wanted some advice. Am I able to take carers leave in advance? i am quite willing to take it unpaid.

where i work carers' leave can be arranged in advance. i have taken it for a hospital appt m dd had - my employer told me i ws entitled to 2 carers' leave a year. its handy if you have a sick child or no childcare.

do you have a contract?

do you have a human resources dept? you could call them if you dont want to speak to your direct boss

yes I have taken a carers leave day when my ds was sick. My boss does anything she can to not give you what you are entitled to!! I used to be assistant manager where i work but when had ds,changed to sales advisor. I think I may ring HR to check.

ok. good luck!

if you willing to take it unpaid, I beleive you can take parental leive for any child up to the age of 5 (on the basis that you can't get childcare for that night)

Oh ok,yes I am always willing to take things unpaid if I have any problems with shifts etc.

The other thing is can they give me a disciplinary or anything like that if I cant work it? I dont have a bad sickness record and always swap shifts if I cant do them?

TMMJ while it's obviously a problem for the OP, quite a lot of people who work in shops enjoy the last few hours of XMas Eve especially if they are on any kind of incentive scheme.
And people who work in catering, bars, hotels etc are going to be working much later on Xmas Eve and probably Xmas Day as well.

where i work the shop actually shuts at 5pm but they stay till 6-7pm to put out the sale ready for Boxing Day

no The Body Shop,in a shopping centre. It never used to be open on boxing day but the last 2-3 yrs it has.

MMJ if you don't like to shop on boxing day then don't. But plenty of people do - and plenty of shopworkers like the extra money. Remember that Xmas is no big deal to a lot of people: if you are not being obliged to work then why not get on with doing what you want to do and let other people do likewise.

I personally think everything should be shut from 2pm xmas eve until the 27th Dec. Xmas is a huge deal to most,and we spend the rest of our lives at work so it wouldnt hurt to have those ones off!!!

have just checked unless your employer agrees to one day off - the govt fall-back scheme is for minimum blocks of one week. I would bluff it out with your employer and just say you need to book one days parental leave.

no they can't give you a disciplinary for one day off - or would be exceptional. Body Shop must have policy on parental leave.

And whilst I don't want to join any argument {hmm] it is hugely helpful to me to have the shops open Xmas eve afetrnoon (though I don't think that staff should be copmelled to stay past normal clsoing time and agree 25th 26th isn;t unreasonable to be shut.

thankyou kewcumber. Work is normally good about things but was just worried cos its xmas eve!! (if that makes sense). Do you know if they can give me a disciplinary or anything like that if I cant work it? I dont have a bad sickness record and always swap shifts if I cant do them?

Noogles: not very practical. {lenty of people in plenty of jobs have to work anyway (police, medics etc) and plenty of others want to. Enforced holidays are a pain - no wonder the domestic vilence stats shoot through the roof around this time of year.