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Original poster

Ridiculous 7am start on Boxing Day

436 replies

OatMilkLattes · 14/12/2022 11:04

Hi, I have rejoined MN after a few months off.

I work for a large company in London and we have the 26th/27th off.

We were sent a handover a few days ago from our boss as she has the entire Christmas period off (for the 4th year in a row, meaning I couldn’t take the time off too, but that’s another story!)

She has asked me to log on to my computer to check something at 7am on Boxing Day. In the handover it literally says ‘26th Dec - bank holiday’ and then says for me to log on. I will not get paid for this.

Also if said thing I am checking is wrong, I will need to flag with tech to fix it. That means I will need to phone them and because my flat is so insulated, I need to leave my house and go outside to get signal. I will also have people staying with me so I will end up waking everyone up.

Anyway I am FURIOUS. What can I do here? I feel like knowing I have to log on so early on Boxing Day will semi ruin my Xmas day.

😡

OP posts:
Courtjobby · 15/12/2022 12:49

I would definitely go to HR and if you can - copy in your previous message thread and reply to her reply all and say " As precious discussed I am on annual leave that day and therefore will not be available to do this task. Please refer to our previous conversation attached."

babyjellyfish · 15/12/2022 12:53

Reply all:

You appear to have addressed this email to me by mistake, given that I confirmed to you yesterday that I will be unable to do this due to being on booked leave on Boxing Day.

If you have not sent this email to me in error, I do not appreciate being put under repeated pressure to do unpaid overtime on one of the only two days I have been allowed to have off over Christmas. Please stop harassing me and ask somebody who is being paid to work on Boxing Day to perform this task instead.

AlisonDonut · 15/12/2022 13:05

She isn't on leave - it is a bank holiday.

I'd defiitely reply asking why she had copied me in with all the management when I'd very clearly already stated I wasn't checking anything as it was a bank holiday and that if she kept trying to bully me into working I'd be taking it further.

babyjellyfish · 15/12/2022 13:09

A bank holiday is still a day off unless you are being paid to work that day, which the OP isn't.

babyjellyfish · 15/12/2022 13:10

And given that the OP is working on Christmas Day, I think we can safely assume that wherever she works is open 365 days per year, meaning that someone else will be getting paid to work on Boxing Day.

DirectionToPerfection · 15/12/2022 13:10

I think OP should be making a point of how she was granted no leave over Christmas, for the fourth year running, and has only the bank holidays off. The request was unreasonable anyway but that just adds to it.

AlisonDonut · 15/12/2022 13:11

babyjellyfish · 15/12/2022 13:09

A bank holiday is still a day off unless you are being paid to work that day, which the OP isn't.

It is but stating she has leave just offers up the management saying 'no leave is booked so she needs to work'.

DirectionToPerfection · 15/12/2022 13:12

babyjellyfish · 15/12/2022 13:10

And given that the OP is working on Christmas Day, I think we can safely assume that wherever she works is open 365 days per year, meaning that someone else will be getting paid to work on Boxing Day.

OP said they're closed on the 26th and 27th, and it's not any kind of essential service. Seems everyone else has those days off and only OP is expected to work.

babyjellyfish · 15/12/2022 13:13

AlisonDonut · 15/12/2022 13:11

It is but stating she has leave just offers up the management saying 'no leave is booked so she needs to work'.

Show quote history

If she needs to work then she needs to get paid.

rookiemere · 15/12/2022 13:14

The email cc ing all can be short and sweet.

Senior people are used to reading between the lines.

MerryMarigold · 15/12/2022 13:17

Suemademedoit · 15/12/2022 11:35

You’re leaving in January, you have nothing to lose. She’s preying on your inability to say no. She’s bullying you. And she wants to look good to her managers, she wants to be able to say to them “I tried 🤷‍♀️” (but even so, copying in your own managers or even your peers on an email like this makes you look like you can’t manage your team - she’s embarrassing herself). This is what I would reply with:

Dear X

As I explained in our texts yesterday, my plans for my two days off over Christmas preclude me from logging on at 7am on Boxing Day, and/or actioning anything that needs actioning.

I hope you’re able to find someone who can do this for you while you are on holiday. Enjoy your trip.

Regards,

I love this reply. Sugar sweet. Includes all relevant info and soooo perfectly passivee aggressive. It's perfect OP.

LlynTegid · 15/12/2022 13:18

Please OP name the company if you feel able. I don't want to be doing business with them if I currently do, until this manager is dismissed.

babyjellyfish · 15/12/2022 13:19

DirectionToPerfection · 15/12/2022 13:12

OP said they're closed on the 26th and 27th, and it's not any kind of essential service. Seems everyone else has those days off and only OP is expected to work.

Show quote history

Seems odd that a business would be open on the 25th but closed on the 26th and 27th.

In that case I would rephrase as follows:

You appear to have addressed this email to me by mistake, given that I confirmed to you yesterday that I will be not be doing unpaid overtime on Boxing Day.

If you have not sent this email to me in error, I do not appreciate being put under repeated pressure to work outside normal working hours and on a bank holiday, especially in light of the fact that my request for annual leave was denied for the fourth year in a row.

The 26th and the 27th are the only days I will be able to spend with my family this Christmas and I do not intend to spend any part of them working. Please stop harassing me and find an alternative solution to your problem.

Courtjobby · 15/12/2022 13:23

I genuinely think that for whomever comes after you , you flagging this behaviour by your manager may help future you out of they ever need to do the same. Though I know as your leaving you may not want to burn any bridges

RedToothBrush · 15/12/2022 13:27

"As I have responded twice in previous emails to X, it is a bank holiday and I am on leave and unable to carry out this task.

I do not understand why I am now being asked for a third time by senior management.

It is starting to feel like there is an attempt to harass and bully me into saying yes to unpaid work which is outside my contracted hours and terms of employment.

As I have stated previously, I have not agreed to do this task and I am unable to do it. I hope this resolves the matter once and for all and that HR can be left out of this"

And copy in HR to the email.

Make it crystal clear that a) no if your answer and b) they are now taking the piss in asking you multiple times c) firmly make a point about your T&Cs.

AlisonDonut · 15/12/2022 13:29

babyjellyfish · 15/12/2022 13:13

If she needs to work then she needs to get paid.

Show quote history

Yes I know that. My point is that stating it is an annual leave day is incorrect. It is a bank holiday. And stated as a bank holiday on the handover notes. This is bullying.

BernadetteRostankowskiWolowitz · 15/12/2022 13:30

Seems odd that a business would be open on the 25th but closed on the 26th and 27th

The OP hasn't said the workplace is open christmas day, or that she is working Christmas day.

As Christmas day falls on a weekend, I assumed that she meant that the business would usually be open Mon/Tues but isn't as its Bhs.

babyjellyfish · 15/12/2022 13:48

Oh, I understood her posts to mean she doesn't have Christmas Day off.

Either way, it doesn't change the principle.

BernadetteRostankowskiWolowitz · 15/12/2022 13:53

Also, if she only works part time then she may actually have to use annual leave to cover some bank holidays as she won't get all of them in her BH entitlement.

Ponderingwindow · 15/12/2022 14:29

I like the response from @babyjellyfish . Lays out the reality of the situation. I would leave off the last sentence though.

itsthefinalcountdown1 · 15/12/2022 14:44

Wish everyone would stop saying "say you have plans".

Just say you're on leave. It doesn't matter if you have plans or no plans. What time do in your time off is no one else's business. It doesnt matter if you have a plan or not.

Saying you have plans negatively impacts everyone else having to justify why they're off work, all the time.

ilovelamp82 · 15/12/2022 15:05

I don't think you need to go into more details, I would respond.

Dear ...

I think I've been CC'd in error here as I am unable to complete this task as explained in our previous 3 emails,.

Thanks

SamphiretheTervosaurReturneth · 15/12/2022 16:14

OatMilkLattes · 15/12/2022 11:00

Lol so she didn’t reply but this morning has emailed on a big chain with lots of managers asking me to confirm that I will be checking this.

I have no words

I hope you have replied as bluntly, succinctly as possible.

I'd be going with a version of "No! I have told you 3 times now that, given that your extended holiday booking has left me with only the Bank Holidays free, I will not be waking up before 7am on Boxing Day to do anything work oriented. If it is that important I am sure that the ease with which you think I could do this applies to you too.. Manage!"

SomeUnspokenThing · 15/12/2022 16:18

Loads of good suggestions here, OP, but like someone said - get your response in quickly or the big long chain of managers will assume that you are undertaking the task. Cut this off right now. Good luck!

VickyEadieofThigh · 15/12/2022 16:44

category12 · 15/12/2022 11:06

Just hit reply to all "Apologies, I will be on annual leave and unable to complete this task, please make alternative arrangements. Kind regards, OML."

The OP definitely shouldn't apologise - it would suggest she's in the wrong or at fault here.