Can Walmart make my son work Christmas Eve?

[mhsjax]

"Where in the world did you see that I thought the parent should arrange a ride to work. I said that as an example for my DD who is only 11 that yes the parents would work out ways to carpool because I was asked If I ever carpooled. YOu people need to learn to read."


I quoted your first response and as I read it you are saying it is the Parents responsibility. so I think I can read just fine. How do you interpret "it is the parent's responsibility" to mean anything but it is up to the parents?

Ultimately it is the parents responsibility to make sure he gets home, I never said it was their responsibility to arrange a ride form someone else. He is under 18 so yep when the crap hits the fan it comes down on the parents. Why is it ok for him to depend on someone else and not his parents. I guess as long as you depend on someone else, that doesn't make you a snowflake? I need snowflake definitions.

I am out of this conversation now. If you (and general you) can't see the stupidity of sending a kid off to work and telling him basically, have a nice day dear, find your own way home, well then what can I say.

 

[YodaGirl]

Yes, Wal-Mart can make him work.

If he is a permanent employee (FT or PT) with no coachings on his record, he will not get fired for calling in. The attendance policy has changed quite a bit over the past couple of years, but I believe that if he has not called in at all, he will not get coached for calling in on Christmas Eve. Even if he does get a verbal coaching, best to my recollection, he would still need to get a written coaching, a decision-making day, and then mess up again after that before he was fired.

If he is temp, then it is likely that he could be let go.

In the seven years that I worked at Wal-Mart EVERYONE was required to work Christmas Eve. I can't remember an exception being made (well, except for the Christmas that I was on maternity leave, but that's another story ).

What you advise your son to do depends strictly on the morals that you are teaching him. Are you teaching him to honor a commitment? Are you teaching him to have a good work ethic? Are you teaching him that sometimes in life the right choices aren't always the easiest (or most favorable) choices? If you're trying to teach him any of those things, then you should advise him to work. At the end of the day, he chose to apply at a retail store shortly before the holiday shopping season.

I've had to rearrange plans more than once because of working on the holidays. It's not fun, and no one likes doing it. It's just the nature of the beast.

As for people saying that they could attend a different church service, please understand that not all churches have multiple services. My church, for example, only has one service.

 

[mhsjax]

Are you SERIOUS?

Parents have a life, too. Christmas Eve service is obviously an important event to his parents. They are allowed that. It doesn't make them a bad parent.

But, making him feel bad for working and guilting him into calling in DOES.

If he doesn't have a car, or one that works, and his parents don't have another car, or another car they are willing to let him drive, I see ABSOLUTELY NO issue with him waiting there for them to finish. It doesn't make them bad parents, and he won't DIE waiting.

I also see nothing wrong with asking someone who passes his street/neighborhood/house for a ride home... especially at the holidays. I'd NEVER have an issue dropping off a co-worker if I passed his or her house on my way home. It has nothing to do with responsibility, it has to do with being kind. Of course, the chances of this happening is slim to none.

I NEVER said make him fell bad about working , I NEVER said for him to call in, in fact I said the he needs to work, it is his schedule, he needs to show up. I also said that he could wait for them to leave church, but if a child can't get home then it is the responsibility of the parent to make sure he gets home, by picking him up.

I stand by my earlier post, some of you need to learn to read, I said responsibility, I didn't say the need to arrange his ride for him. I bet if the kid walked home and got into some trouble or couldn't find a ride and the cops found him, they would be calling the parents, because guess what, he is their RESPONSIBILITY.

Sure I would give a kid a ride home, but in this situation I would be thinking, why do I have the responsibility to get him home. I want to enjoy my Christmas eve too.

 

[dogluva]

You have to be kidding right? A 17 yr old isn't responsible and shouldn't be responsible for finding his own ride!!!!!

I don't know a single 17 yr old who has his parents arrange a ride anywhere for them. They would be the laughingstock of the high school if word got out that their Mom arranged their rides.

I"m sorry but if a 17 yr old young adult doesn't have the skills necessary to arrange how they are getting to and from somewhere are they mature enough to have a job? and I worry for them in a few months when they go of to school.

I agree. I am a mother of two working teens. One has her own car, paid for by her job, and the other is saving for one. They always figured out how to get there or home (one still does, the othe when younger) when we are not available. They call people (friends, coworkers, siblings, family, etc.). Sometimes they had to walk home. Oh well. They want the job and there are plenty of people who would take it fromt them in a hearbeat.

I don't understand this attitude-by 17 you need to start transitioning your kids to adulthood if you have already started.

 

[mhsjax]

So what most of you people are raising are moochers. Can't get there with mom or dad, so I just call someone else to get a ride. NICE Make someone else take the responsibility of getting your kid to work. Snowflake parents. Parents that want others to do THEIR job. Adulthood is not depending on others to get you to your job, unless it is a scheduled carpool or a bus.

Every once in a while sure no problem or even a car pool, but you people make it sound like it is an everyday occurance, this is not acceptable.

 

[Planogirl]

I would have no problem giving someone of any age a ride on Christmas Eve. It just seems like the right thing to do. It's not a responsibility to me though because I can just as easily say no.

I would hope that someone else would be nice to give me a ride too sometime if I ever needed it. It's called being helpful to one another.

 

[MissMet]

Why would you need to be off on Thanksgiving Eve or Friday nights for church? I can see Christmas or sunday morning, but really?? what would you need all those other times off for?

My church had services on Sunday mornings & Friday nights as a teen (now it's Sundays & Wednesdays) as well as Thanksgiving Eve & Christmas Eve. I requested to have them off upon being hired & they never had a problem with it.

 

[mrodgers]

Ok, maybe this was covered in the last 5 pages but I skipped those-who DOESN'T work on Christmas Eve? Most companies are still open on Christmas Eve and most people work at least part of that day. Heck, even banks are open on Christmas Eve day.

Me. December 24th, 25th, and 26th are a paid holiday for me. Lucky this year that two of those fall on a weekend, thus the paid holiday moves to Monday and Tuesday. Then 2 vacation days for Wed. and Thu. because we are shut down. Friday the 31st is a paid holiday, then New Year's is paid holiday but falls on Saturday. So that moves to Monday.

So, I've had to save up 2 vacation days to get 11 days off.

 

[kirstenb1]

So what most of you people are raising are moochers. Can't get there with mom or dad, so I just call someone else to get a ride. NICE Make someone else take the responsibility of getting your kid to work. Snowflake parents. Parents that want others to do THEIR job. Adulthood is not depending on others to get you to your job, unless it is a scheduled carpool or a bus.

Every once in a while sure no problem or even a car pool, but you people make it sound like it is an everyday occurance, this is not acceptable.

I agree. I wouldn't mind if there was a carpool amongst my kids and their friends, or the occasional exception. But I drove to my job when I was 16 (I was part of a carpool at different points too). However, I'm also a planner. I like to work out the details before I get to work, or wherever I am. Having worked retail for years on Christmas Eve, I have to tell you everything gets turned upside down. If it's slow, you get to leave before the end of your shift. If it's busy, you're there an hour or 2 after the store closes. Plus, people are often going to Mom's or their cousin's boyfriend's or whatever--not their usual route home.

Poor OP, this has really taken on a life of it's own!

 

[quentina]

My son is a minor. He has been working at Walmart for about 2 months. He received his schedule and he is scheduled to work on Christmas Eve. We normally go to church on Christmas Eve, so this is throwing our whole family off. Not only will he not get to attend church services, but neither will one of us parents.
My husband seems to think that an employer cannot make you work if you have a religious obligation like church services. Is he correct? I cannot find anything on Google about it.

Your husband is wrong. If you son accepted a job, in an establishment that is open on holidays, he accepted that he will be working during these times. I run C-stores, we never close....never. I always make the expectations very clear prior to hire.

 

[auntie]

They definitely can make him work and most (I know not all) religions have more than one mass for the holiday. They would just tell him to attend a different Mass. Your best bet is to see if he could switch shifts with someone with the same job as your son that is working a different shift.

Not everyone who celebrates Christmas and is Christian is Catholic. A "mass" implies they are either Catholic or Episcopal.
Our Church is Presbyterian. A Protestant demonimation and NO we do not have services on Christmas day..but have two Christmas Eve services.

My church had services on Sunday mornings & Friday nights as a teen (now it's Sundays & Wednesdays) as well as Thanksgiving Eve & Christmas Eve. I requested to have them off upon being hired & they never had a problem with it.

I think he probably should have mentioned when he was hired that he would be needing a particular couple of hours off on his day of worship. He might have been accomodated.
I know in NYC...many of the city Jewish union workers are off for their Saturday Sabath. It's not uncommon, for people to be given time for whatever their religious obligations are. I'm not saying it's "easy"..but it is done.The time is made up during the work week.

As to the OP. This is a part time position for some holiday cash. I mean chances are he's not payin' the mortgage on the family home this month. If he was hired for the holiday..it's more than likely Walmart will be kicking him to the curb pretty soon. I would leave it up to him,but have him weigh his options. Personally, having my family with me Christmas Eve in Church, is a pretty high priority. Christmas to us is more than Santa. It is the birth of our Lord and Saviour. It is important. That being said, certainly there have been times in the last 29 years that I've had kids work and they weren't able to sit in a pew with us. They have lives, they grow up, it happens. I have a son who has spent more holidays on the job than at home. I understand this. I'm just not sure if working a few hours in a Walmart that's very likely to let the kid go a few days later is worth it. It's a personal decision, and I don't think there is a right or wrong answer here. Honestly, I think this is kind of getting blown out of proportion.
Geeze, Louise,...you'd think he was going pool hopping or bringing his old mug with him to Disney. Now that's where ya just have to call in the moral police.

 

[Shelly F - Ohio]

Wait when did Christmas Eve become a holiday?
I want holiday pay for that day then! Hey I have worked a number of Christmas Eves so I am do some back pay for this so called holiday!

 

[disneyfans95]

About 14 pages of stuff and don't think the OP ever responded once!

You all fell for a huge troll post..

 

[quentina]

One of the big things you can do is avoid working at Walmart or some of the other big box stores...they have the worst hours for their workers. I work in retail as well and we are closing at 5 on Christmas Eve so the last one out will be out at 5:30. Instead of keeping us late Christmas Eve she schedules us early on Boxing Day (december 26th).



They do ask your availability but pretty much everyone is going to want days off over Christmas. What I have always done in December is pick a couple days that I REALLY want off and say I'd be more than happy to work the rest. Generally it's "If at all possible could I get a morning shift on the 24th and you can put me where ever you want on boxing day, New Years, and everywhere else". Even at Thanksgiving I've asked if I could get the Saturday off instead of the Sunday or Monday (I'm Canadian it's generally done on Sunday here) and moved it up a day with my family. It works well.

BTW a lot of people are slamming retail jobs. They aren't all bad. I freaking LOVE my job. I actually look forward to going to work every day and helping women find clothes that truly make them look great, it's really rewarding to get somebody who's feeling really down about their body, or just had a baby, or hasn't gone shopping in years some really great clothes that make them feel better about themselves. I know there are a lot of people that don't love their "good" jobs so much, it isn't all about pay and getting weekends off. Granted Walmart isn't exactly the best retail job, but we all start somewhere.

I agree with this....I started part time in a C-store while in college. Recession came, I asked for Full time (early 90's), moved up, got degree, moved up...numerous spots, now I am a HR manager in charge of 145 stores and 3000 associates. Keep in mind, this was my first job! I will retire from my only job!! They are now helping me pay for a specialized degree in HR so, I can continue up the company chain. This PT job was one of the best things that ever happened to me.

 

[kirstenb1]

About 14 pages of stuff and don't think the OP ever responded once!

You all fell for a huge troll post..

Not fair. OP has responded. Not a troll.

 

[LovableGluttons]

Holy moly!

I have been a nurse for decades now, Catholic even longer. I never considered asking for Christmas off because while celebrations are occurring, the rest of the world is tasked with keeping things going. Thankfully, Walmart recognizes the need some of us might need to go to the store and schedules employees to make that happen.

 

[EllenFrasier]

About 14 pages of stuff and don't think the OP ever responded once!

You all fell for a huge troll post..

OP here - I have responded several times - you should learn how to use the search tool before making accusations.
Anyway, I am not responding to the replies that refer to car pooling because I wasn't asking about that or suggesting that. The only way I would allow him to accept a ride home is if it was with a friend's parent that we knew, which we don't know anyone else that works for Walmart.
I also haven't responded to the posts about Christmas Eve not being a holiday. Of course it is not a legal holiday, but it does hold a great meaning to Christians.
I haven't responded to the posts about him attending a different mass because we are not Catholic.
Can't respond to every post, but I have been reading along and I did respond a couple of times.
Thanks for everyone's input even if it didn't apply to me.
Have a Merry Christmas everyone!

 

[skater]

I feel bad for people in this situation. Christmas Eve is almost as important in our house as Christmas day. My DH and I have been fortunate enough to have always had jobs that did not require working Christmas Eve. I have worked in retail, but always in a store that was closed early Christmas Eve. I currently have teens and dread a similar situation.

My DD is looking for a job and I guess we will need to keep things like this in mind as she makes her choices.

 

[LisaNJ25]

I feel bad for people in this situation. Christmas Eve is almost as important in our house as Christmas day. My DH and I have been fortunate enough to have always had jobs that did not require working Christmas Eve. I have worked in retail, but always in a store that was closed early Christmas Eve. I currently have teens and dread a similar situation.

My DD is looking for a job and I guess we will need to keep things like this in mind as she makes her choices.

Most retail these stores stay open way to late for the holiday. Toys R Us is opening Tuesday am and not closing till Christmas ever. I am not sure of the Christmas Eve hours yet.

My son is working there and I told him weeks ago to put down a request to work during the day since he is off of school and we spend Christmas Eve with dh's side of the family.

Stubborn kid still hasn't done it.

 

[Styx Fan]

This is topic very familiar to me. I worked in a movie theatre for 8 years, from senior year of high school until a bit after college. Loved the job, but hated the holiday hours. We were open 365 days per year On weekends we had late shows that began as late as midnight or a bit after. The only concession to Christmas was they would cancel the late showings on Christmas Eve.

Every year there were kids who would ask for all the holiday shifts off and were sad to hear the reality of the theatre business. Let's put it this way....why would any one person or their family be so special they would get it all off? Especially when others have been working there for a long time and paid their dues? It was hard on the parents to hear this.

The really, really sad part were we didn't get any overtime or extra comp for working those hours. But, the job was most fun for which I will ever get paid!

Seniority definitely mattered in the scheduling. Everybody pretty much excepted someone working their first holiday season to have the worst shifts, but everybody had to work some so no one had to work them all. I think the general rule was at least 1 shift one shift from Christmas eve night and Christmas day/night. I'm pretty sure I worked 12-6 on Christmas Eve every year and 6-close on Christmas day. I volunteered to work 12-6 on Eve so I could be off at 6:00. And I figured by Christmas night it wasn't a big deal. (small family, nothing going on at night anyway). Some of the staff was happy to avoid an all day family thing (hey, teenagers!) and would volunteer to work 12-6 on the day and go out at night.

After a while I was high on the list and it was a given I could pick my shifts. But I always was expected to work. I will say New Years Eve/Day was operated a bit differently. They were seen more as party days than family/religious and seniority really ruled. I worked the first year on the Eve and after that it was off at 6:00. Sometimes I worked on the 1st, others didn't, depending on what was going on. Not a biggie to 99% of the staff.

My first post and I ramble...Sorry....late at night does that to me!
Oops, not my first post...forgot I posted last year.