Advertisement
If you have a new account but are having problems posting or verifying your account, please email us on hello@boards.ie for help. Thanks :)
Hello all! Please ensure that you are posting a new thread or question in the appropriate forum. The Feedback forum is overwhelmed with questions that are having to be moved elsewhere. If you need help to verify your account contact hello@boards.ie

Forced Work Christmas Day

Options
1356

Comments

  • Options
    #62
    sirmanga
    Closed Accounts Posts: 502 ✭✭✭sirmanga


    Turn up to work sh1tfaced. You'll be back home before the turkey is out of the oven.


  • Options
    #63
    Wanderer78
    Registered Users Posts: 29,519 ✭✭✭✭Wanderer78


    sirmanga wrote: »
    Turn up to work sh1tfaced. You'll be back home before the turkey is out of the oven.

    ...and with your p45, if your lucky


  • Options
    #64
    sirmanga
    Closed Accounts Posts: 502 ✭✭✭sirmanga


    Wanderer78 wrote: »
    ...and with your p45, if your lucky

    Ah, just claim you have a problem. Worst you'll get is a written warning and the offer of company mental health counselling. And you have Christmas Day off. Bob's your uncle.


  • Options
    #65
    pinkyeye
    Registered Users Posts: 1,293 ✭✭✭pinkyeye


    sirmanga wrote: »
    Ah, just claim you have a problem. Worst you'll get is a written warning and the offer of company mental health counselling. And you have Christmas Day off. Bob's your uncle.

    Now that's simply bad advice. Most employment contracts have clauses where you can be dismissed immediately for gross misconduct and that would include turning up for work drunk.


  • Options
    #66
    [Deleted User]
    Posts: 14,344 ✭✭✭✭ [Deleted User]


    SusieBlue wrote: »
    I've worked in a place that opened on Christmas Day. Nobody ever ever volunteered, there was never anyone willing to work.
    Managers don't care if you don't want to come in. Someone has to do it and saying you "have no interest" won't cut it.

    Calling in sick is the height of disrespect and selfishness towards his fellow colleague who will be called in to cover his absence.
    They deserve to have their Christmas with their families/friends too, its unfortunate that OP drew the short straw but ruining someone else's day isn't the answer either.
    Its beyond self centred and selfish.

    I was the person who was called in to cover one year and it spoiled my whole day. I didn't appreciate it one bit.
    I know its not OP's problem but its a very unkind thing to do and is something that should be avoided at all costs.

    His boss/owners will be at home enoying the day with the families, it'll be someone on his level who he inconveniences.




    If you don't want to get called into work, then turn off your phone, or don't answer to work. Not too hard.


    In real life, you'd ring in sick and nobody would do anything about it. And you wouldn't get rostered for it again because the boss now knows that you'll just ring in sick and won't bother rostering you for it.


    There's a bit of mutual respect needed in a workplace. Telling someone they're working a day they've made it clear they don;t want to isn't on.


  • Advertisement
  • Options
    #67
    SusieBlue
    Registered Users Posts: 8,029 ✭✭✭SusieBlue


    [Deleted User] wrote: »
    If you don't want to get called into work, then turn off your phone, or don't answer to work. Not too hard.


    In real life, you'd ring in sick and nobody would do anything about it. And you wouldn't get rostered for it again because the boss now knows that you'll just ring in sick and won't bother rostering you for it.


    There's a bit of mutual respect needed in a workplace. Telling someone they're working a day they've made it clear they don;t want to isn't on.

    There is absolutely no respect towards either your employers or your colleagues if you call in sick on a day like Christmas Day. It’s basically implying that your time is more important than theirs, and screw them and their plans.

    Nobody wants to work that day, that’s what’s the problem is. Employers are not obliged to give you a day off just because you want one - annual leave is at their discretion.
    There have been plenty of times over the years where I would have liked a day off but couldn’t have one as it was during a business critical period, near a deadline, or too many people had already booked it off - that’s just how it is sometimes.

    What the boss will know is that he’s a chancer who can’t be depended on and when things get quiet in January (as they inevitably do in customer service), OP will be the first one out the door or with his hours cut because he can’t be counted on.

    This mé féiner attitude is getting more and more prevalent, there is a lot to be said for having a bit of consideration for your colleagues.

    I get that he doesn’t want to work, I wouldn’t want to either.
    If he can’t get anyone to cover him and he can’t take annual leave then he should absolutely hand in his notice rather than ruin someone else’s Christmas by pulling a fast one at the last minute.
    It’s beyond selfish and self centered.

    It’s gas saying they should just ‘turn off their phones if they don’t want to get called in’ - they wouldn’t have that stress in the first place if OP just turned up to his rostered shift as he’s supposed to.


  • Options
    #68
    [Deleted User]
    Posts: 14,344 ✭✭✭✭ [Deleted User]


    SusieBlue wrote: »
    There is absolutely no respect towards either your employers or your colleagues if you call in sick on a day like Christmas Day. It’s basically implying that your time is more important than theirs, and screw them and their plans.

    Nobody wants to work that day, that’s what’s the problem is. Employers are not obliged to give you a day off just because you want one - annual leave is at their discretion.
    There have been plenty of times over the years where I would have liked a day off but couldn’t have one as it was during a business critical period, near a deadline, or too many people had already booked it off - that’s just how it is sometimes.

    What the boss will know is that he’s a chancer who can’t be depended on and when things get quiet in January (as they inevitably do in customer service), OP will be the first one out the door or with his hours cut because he can’t be counted on.

    This mé féiner attitude is getting more and more prevalent, there is a lot to be said for having a bit of consideration for your colleagues.

    I get that he doesn’t want to work, I wouldn’t want to either.
    If he can’t get anyone to cover him and he can’t take annual leave then he should absolutely hand in his notice rather than ruin someone else’s Christmas by pulling a fast one at the last minute.
    It’s beyond selfish and self centered.

    It’s gas saying they should just ‘turn off their phones if they don’t want to get called in’ - they wouldn’t have that stress in the first place if OP just turned up to his rostered shift as he’s supposed to.




    I obviously don't know where you work, but your workplace/management sounds dire. Why do you feel the OP should be blamed for ruining someone else's christmas, but not the boss?


    If you're not rostered to work that day, why would you be answering your phone to work? If Xmas is a quiet day in general then other staff won't be too put out by you taking the day off. Your boss isn't going to just cut your hours willy-nilly unless you're a piss taker in general.


    And if you're the first one 'gone' after christmas then it's likely you were never gonna be there after christmas anyway.


  • Options
    #69
    Homelander
    Registered Users Posts: 4,415 ✭✭✭Homelander


    Well the reality is that someone has to do it, and if your workplace opens on Christmas Day and you drew the short straw, just have to suck it up I'm afraid. Calling in sick is low, someone else will have to cover you unexpectedly, which is really crappy. If you're still there next year, you'll likely not have to do it as you did it this year, or maybe you're guaranteed Stephens Day/New Years off instead, or whatever. Most workplaces have some sort of system.


  • Options
    #70
    Wanderer78
    Registered Users Posts: 29,519 ✭✭✭✭Wanderer78


    Homelander wrote:
    Well the reality is that someone has to do it, and if your workplace opens on Christmas Day and you drew the short straw, just have to suck it up I'm afraid. Calling in sick is low, someone else will have to cover you unexpectedly, which is really crappy. If you're still there next year, you'll likely not have to do it as you did it this year, or maybe you're guaranteed Stephens Day/New Years off instead, or whatever. Most workplaces have some sort of system.


    Management/owner should also suck it up, and be present also, for the entire day


  • Options
    #71
    whomitconcerns
    Registered Users Posts: 4,367 ✭✭✭whomitconcerns


    Wanderer78 wrote: »
    Management/owner should also suck it up, and be present also, for the entire day

    Playing devils advocate here, but why should they, that's what they are paying people for. If someone is due to work, they are due to work. Simple question, do they want the job or not. If not seeya and we'll find someone who does.


  • Advertisement
  • Options
    #72
    Wanderer78
    Registered Users Posts: 29,519 ✭✭✭✭Wanderer78


    whomitconcerns wrote:
    Playing devils advocate here, but why should they, that's what they are paying people for. If someone is due to work, they are due to work. Simple question, do they want the job or not. If not seeya and we'll find someone who does.


    What's good for the goose.....


  • Options
    #73
    Hoboo
    Registered Users Posts: 3,565 ✭✭✭Hoboo


    Wanderer78 wrote: »
    Management/owner should also suck it up, and be present also, for the entire day

    One of the perks of being an owner or manager is someone else is paid to shovel the ****.


  • Options
    #74
    Wanderer78
    Registered Users Posts: 29,519 ✭✭✭✭Wanderer78


    Hoboo wrote:
    One of the perks of being an owner or manager is someone else is paid to shovel the ****.


    Nice perk!


  • Options
    #75
    B0jangles
    Closed Accounts Posts: 4,951 ✭✭✭B0jangles


    Occasionally a business needs its staff to pull together, to work extra hours and go beyond their contractually-required duties to help achieve a goal.

    Those are the times when the owner finds out how much it really cost them when they chose to take time off at times like Christmas while demanding the staff stay and work.

    Getting people to work on days like that can be managed without force - you can incentivize by offering extra pay, extra time off, if possible divide the day into two halves so people can choose to come in for a few hours in the morning or a few hours in the evening.

    Or they can just lay down the law - they might 'win' for that day but they'll lose a hell of a lot more in the long run, unless keeping good, experienced staff is not something that matters in their business.


  • Options
    #76
    Dav010
    Registered Users Posts: 14,570 ✭✭✭✭Dav010


    Don’t most businesses have a system where staff apply for leave dates early in the year and if there is too many applications for particular dates, preference is given to length of service?

    For those that say it is unfair, if someone has to work, it is either they didn’t apply for leave early enough, or more they are new and it is very fair that longer serving staff get some benefit for their service.

    The reality is that the op can’t be forced to work any day they don’t want to, but a refusal will have obvious repercussions and if you call in sick after requesting it off, the management will quite rightly see this for what it is and move you on.

    Put bluntly, if the op isn’t bothered about the job, don’t work, start looking for a new job after Christmas. If the op does like the job, and sees it as a step in his/her career, then more consideration will have to be given to the implications of not turning up.


  • Options
    #77
    SusieBlue
    Registered Users Posts: 8,029 ✭✭✭SusieBlue


    Deleted User wrote: »
    I obviously don't know where you work, but your workplace/management sounds dire. Why do you feel the OP should be blamed for ruining someone else's christmas, but not the boss?


    If you're not rostered to work that day, why would you be answering your phone to work? If Xmas is a quiet day in general then other staff won't be too put out by you taking the day off. Your boss isn't going to just cut your hours willy-nilly unless you're a piss taker in general.


    And if you're the first one 'gone' after christmas then it's likely you were never gonna be there after christmas anyway.


    The bolded is hilarious, if its a quiet day why doesn't OP just suck it up and go in? Of course his colleague is going to mind. Their plans would be ruined last minute because of OP's selfishness.

    Its not the boss's fault either. Presumably OP knew the business opened on Christmas when the job was accepted. He unfortunately drew the short straw and its his turn to work.
    You can't have your cake and eat it, in any of the customer service/hospitality jobs I had in the past, pulling a stunt like that would not be acceptable unless you were gravely, gravely ill.
    OP's Christmas is no more important or special than anyone else's. Its a fellow colleague he'll be upsetting by doing this, not his boss.
    Its a very selfish thing to do.


  • Options
    #78
    Topgear on Dave
    Registered Users Posts: 4,547 ✭✭✭Topgear on Dave


    Iv done a few christmas days.

    Its just part of the job.


  • Options
    #79
    Thoie
    Registered Users Posts: 6,344 ✭✭✭Thoie


    The reason calling in sick is a horrible thing to do your colleagues is all around planning.

    Mary knows she's rostered to work Christmas Day. With that in mind, she arranges to have the turkey dinner a day before/after. She organises childcare with her parents. She arranges to see her sister who's home from Australia the next day. Her parents/sister are aware of the plans, and make their own plans around those.

    Now let's say Mary was not rostered to work Christmas Day, and with that in mind had arranged to cook a big family dinner for everyone, including her sister home from Australia on the 25th. Knowing that plan, her sister makes her own plans to see other people at the other end of the country on Stephen's Day. Her parents agree to spend Christmas morning with someone else. 10am Christmas morning, just as she's put the turkey in the oven, Mary gets a call to say "Bob has phoned in sick" and asking her to come in and cover for him. It's now too late for her to reorganise all the plans, she's got no childcare arranged, her parents are off somewhere else and can't get to hers for an hour. The turkey is now warm, and just has to be let continue cooking. She won't get to see her sister at all now, and won't see her for another 4 years.

    That's why it's crappy to agree to the roster then just not show up. If you're rostered for that day, now is the time to talk to your colleagues and see if anyone would swap.


  • Options
    #80
    Hoboo
    Registered Users Posts: 3,565 ✭✭✭Hoboo


    Thoie wrote: »
    The reason calling in sick is a horrible thing to do your colleagues is all around planning.

    Mary knows she's rostered to work Christmas Day. With that in mind, she arranges to have the turkey dinner a day before/after. She organises childcare with her parents. She arranges to see her sister who's home from Australia the next day. Her parents/sister are aware of the plans, and make their own plans around those.

    Now let's say Mary was not rostered to work Christmas Day, and with that in mind had arranged to cook a big family dinner for everyone, including her sister home from Australia on the 25th. Knowing that plan, her sister makes her own plans to see other people at the other end of the country on Stephen's Day. Her parents agree to spend Christmas morning with someone else. 10am Christmas morning, just as she's put the turkey in the oven, Mary gets a call to say "Bob has phoned in sick" and asking her to come in and cover for him. It's now too late for her to reorganise all the plans, she's got no childcare arranged, her parents are off somewhere else and can't get to hers for an hour. The turkey is now warm, and just has to be let continue cooking. She won't get to see her sister at all now, and won't see her for another 4 years.

    That's why it's crappy to agree to the roster then just not show up. If you're rostered for that day, now is the time to talk to your colleagues and see if anyone would swap.

    Unless Mary is on call, Mary should decline or not answer her phone. If she's on call, then she's on call. That's what she's paid 'on call' money for.

    I get your point though, someones taking a hit, which is wrong.

    OP, you agreed to a contract that includes working Christmas Day, suck it up or get a different job you can act more professionally in.


  • Options
    #81
    whomitconcerns
    Registered Users Posts: 4,367 ✭✭✭whomitconcerns


    Wanderer78 wrote: »
    What's good for the goose.....

    Should be good for the owner of the goose?????


  • Advertisement
  • Options
    #82
    C3PO
    Registered Users Posts: 3,762 ✭✭✭C3PO


    Deleted User wrote: »
    I obviously don't know where you work, but your workplace/management sounds dire. Why do you feel the OP should be blamed for ruining someone else's christmas, but not the boss?


    If you're not rostered to work that day, why would you be answering your phone to work? If Xmas is a quiet day in general then other staff won't be too put out by you taking the day off. Your boss isn't going to just cut your hours willy-nilly unless you're a piss taker in general.


    And if you're the first one 'gone' after christmas then it's likely you were never gonna be there after christmas anyway.

    I've no idea what you do for a living but with your attitude you wouldn't last very long in any of the places I've worked in!


  • Options
    #83
    Del2005
    Registered Users Posts: 18,992 ✭✭✭✭Del2005


    Multiple posts and no one had said the obvious. If you don't want to work Christmas day join a company that closes Christmas day. If you join a company that works Christmas day then you work it if roostered and can't get leave or cover. Don't apply for a job and go through a tough interview process if you don't want to do the job.

    As for a company not being able to do anything about calling in sick. They can put you on a disciplinary process and you'll miss your pay rises for the next few cycles and any chance of promotion has gone , so yes a company can do a lot if you ring in sick. Not to mention the horrible work environment you're now in because you shafted your co worker's who were in or worse got called in because you took the wrong job.


  • Options
    #84
    Strumms
    Registered Users Posts: 25,466 ✭✭✭✭Strumms


    If you have a doctors note and they try and discipline you they are opening their world to a legal shîtshow. Even if they sent you to a company doctor who disagreed with your GP in court it’s just the opinion of one doctor vs another and I think the court will side with the employee and their GP.


  • Options
    #85
    SusieBlue
    Registered Users Posts: 8,029 ✭✭✭SusieBlue


    A doctors note explains an absence but doesn’t excuse it and employers are not obliged, legally or otherwise, to accept them.

    You can still be disciplined for an unauthorized absence even with a doctors note.

    The note would be fraudulent anyway seeing as OP isn’t even sick and will be pulling a fast one.


  • Options
    #86
    Dav010
    Registered Users Posts: 14,570 ✭✭✭✭Dav010


    Strumms wrote: »
    If you have a doctors note and they try and discipline you they are opening their world to a legal shîtshow. Even if they sent you to a company doctor who disagreed with your GP in court it’s just the opinion of one doctor vs another and I think the court will side with the employee and their GP.

    A doctors cert explains your absence, it doesn’t excuse it. An employer is under no legal obligation to accept it. It is an oft quoted fallacy that you cannot be fired while on certified sick leave.


  • Options
    #87
    Strumms
    Registered Users Posts: 25,466 ✭✭✭✭Strumms


    Dav010 wrote: »
    A doctors cert explains your absence, it doesn’t excuse it. An employer is under no legal obligation to accept it. It is an oft quoted fallacy that you cannot be fired while on certified sick leave.

    If they fire you they need to be acting legally. Ends up in court and the employee has a clear record and a doctors note it will cost the company tens of thousands. Unless the employee was seen out playing a match or drinking beer, or both.


  • Options
    #88
    [Deleted User]
    Posts: 14,344 ✭✭✭✭ [Deleted User]


    C3PO wrote: »
    I've no idea what you do for a living but with your attitude you wouldn't last very long in any of the places I've worked in!




    I'm self employed at the moment, but I've worked various jobs, from small to large companies. And I've worked Christmas days.


    Without trying to sound big-headed, I'm a fantastic employee. I work quite hard at things I've to do and I make an effort. However; I don't accept being treated like a school child in return.


    To give an example: If I say I won't be in on Xmas day, then you can roster me if you want, but I won't be in, and you already knew that.


    And if I'm not rostered in, don't ring me. Because it's not my problem and I don't want to know. When I'm at work, I'm at work, and I will work very, very hard to be the absolute best I can. But when I'm at home, I don't want to hear about work, see work or be involved in work.


    Thankfully most places I've worked have actually appreciated my honesty and acting like an adult. I only ever left one job on bad terms.


    Now that I'm self employed, I'm always at work. There's no real 'off days' because you're always doing something relating to work. But that's very different to being an employee. If a manager can't respect his employees wishes then he's a bad manager, simply because there's no company out there that should struggle for staff on Christmas Day.


    If you don't have people volunteering it's because you're either a prick and people won't help you out because of spite, or failing that, it's because you're expecting them to do it with little in return.



    If you offer decent money, or something good in return, you'll always get someone to do it (or someone who will swap with someone who doesn't want to do it) same as you'll always get people wanting Sundays in retail for the extra money, etc.


  • Options
    #89
    Strumms
    Registered Users Posts: 25,466 ✭✭✭✭Strumms


    Deleted User wrote: »


    And if I'm not rostered in, don't ring me. Because it's not my problem and I don't want to know. When I'm at work, I'm at work, and I will work very, very hard to be the absolute best I can. But when I'm at home, I don't want to hear about work, see work or be involved in work


    Thankfully most places I've worked have actually appreciated my honesty and acting like an adult. I only ever left one job on bad terms.


    If you don't have people volunteering it's because you're either a prick and people won't help you out because of spite, or failing that, it's because you're expecting them to do it with little in return.


    Great attitude, I’m with you 100%

    Last job we struggled big time to find staff to work Saturday, as well as being a weekend day it needed to be 6.30am start and was manic throughout... people tended to call in sick a fair bit so my mobile would ring and them being desperate when I refused we’re getting thick..

    to the point on Friday I turned my phone off going to bed. I was called into a meeting and was told they expected me to be contactable...I advised that nowhere in my contract does it stipulate I need to be contactable, they argued. I advised I was to request from HR to check with legal AND advising that they were demanding I should be. All of a sudden the manager was chewing his own words, “I needed to word it better, I’d ‘appreciate’ that you were contactable”.

    If it was said ... “Strumms, struggling here, need you for 6 hours, double time and a few hours credited to you holiday allowance , any chance ?” I’d probably be there, good will etc... but trying to bully and lie and intimidate? Nahhh


  • Options
    #90
    MEGA BRO WOLF 5000
    Registered Users Posts: 17,460 ✭✭✭✭MEGA BRO WOLF 5000


    BDI wrote: »
    I’d just ring in sick.
    Customer service on Christmas Day, Jaysis.

    +1 it’s christmas day. My bollocks I’d work Christmas Day for any money. You can’t get the day back.


  • Advertisement
  • Options
    #91
    whomitconcerns
    Registered Users Posts: 4,367 ✭✭✭whomitconcerns


    Hunky Monster wrote: »
    +1 it’s christmas day. My bollocks I’d work Christmas Day for any money. You can’t get the day back.

    Then don't have a job that might require Christmas Day working..I'm sure there's plenty of the immigrants everyone complains about, that would be very happy to have the job... We have little to complain about..


Advertisement