Can Walmart make my son work Christmas Eve?

[NHdisneylover]

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.

Even in Germany, famed for its MAN public holidays, Christmas Eve is a working day (though the vast majority of places close early--around 2:00).

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.

Geez. I think the overwhelming suggestion has been that the kid should hang out at Wal-mart. All of the ask someone for a ride things have been that--ASK, and always saying something about if they go that way AND some have suggested offering to pay. Sometimes people do give me or my kids rides. At other times we give rides to them. When it works for us to do so we always say yes (and often offer before someone has to ask) so I do not feel it is mooching when it frequently goes both ways. I would see mooching if posters were saying that he should ALWAYS, or mostly, get co workers to drive him home, or if he should expect it. I don't know how you get mooching off of saying in a special circumstance he could ask

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

You all fell for a huge troll post..

You are completely off base. The OP has been back numerous times.

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.

I feel badly too--but that doesn't mean I think it is okay to shirk the responsibility.

 

[NMAmy]

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.

Holy cow. I have student employees and I often give them a ride home so they don't have to take the bus. I'll even go out of my way to drop them off. Many, many people have no issue being kind to a coworker. These aren't moochers and since they're all 18 and up, I'd be a bit appalled if their parents were calling me to set up a ride. If they need a ride somewhere, they ask me. If I can help, I do. If I can't, they check with someone else.

When I was young myself, my boss used to stop by my house on really snowy days and pick me up so I wouldn't have to drive. That was his idea because he was a kind man who worried about his employees' safety.

 

[mhsjax]

Holy cow. I have student employees and I often give them a ride home so they don't have to take the bus. I'll even go out of my way to drop them off. Many, many people have no issue being kind to a coworker. These aren't moochers and since they're all 18 and up, I'd be a bit appalled if their parents were calling me to set up a ride. If they need a ride somewhere, they ask me. If I can help, I do. If I can't, they check with someone else.

When I was young myself, my boss used to stop by my house on really snowy days and pick me up so I wouldn't have to drive. That was his idea because he was a kind man who worried about his employees' safety.

AGain, could you pleas direct me to where I said that the parents should set up the ride. Also in regards to being a moocher, I said this when a pp said that her child finds a way to work when she isn't available. By calling friends co workers and family, screams moocher to me. sounding to me like it is a fairly frequent thing.

Let me start this over again for everyone that seem to think I want parents to set it up.

My first response was to the pp that stated finding a way home from work at 17 was part of growing up. I disagree, if the kid works weather he wants to or not, it isn't really part of growing up. Lots of kid never have to ask for a ride to work from friends or co workers. If they do sometimes fine, BUT it isn't part of growing up. Again for the 5th time, I said the kid because he is under 18 is, in the end, the parents responsibility not anyone else's. Doesn't mean that they should set up a ride, it means that if the kid can't get a ride, they have to figure it out. Not the kid. This isn't soccer or hanging with a friend it is work the parents should be able to get the kid if no one else can, if they can't well then he doesn't need to be working.

Repeat after me, I NEVER SAID THE PARENT SHOULD SET UP HIS RIDE TO OR FROM WORK. I don't know where parents responsibility comes off as parent setting up ride to or from work. I am responsible for my DD getting to different places, but she will call and ask for a ride sometimes with a parents friend, but if they can't take her, guess what. MY RESPONSIBILITY.

I also never said that he should take off because it is Christmas eve, I worked many myself. I got myself home thank you. My parents let me use their car. I also said that it wouldn't kill him to wait until his parents got home from church. But then a pp said geez his parents have a life why should they mess up their plans, well BECAUSE HE IS YOUR SON. And why does someone else have to do your job by getting our kid home. Let me see, that screams entitlement to me, (another word along with snowflake that loves to get tossed around here at the Dis).

So to sum it up. No he shouldn't call in to work, he should go. He can wait for his parents if he can't find a ride, In the end he is under 18 he is the parent responsibility. Finding a ride home on Christmas eve isn't part of growing up. and last of all, I NEVER SAID THE PARENT SHOULD SET UP A RIDE FOR THE KID.

Merry Christmas.

 

[kellyg403]

OP, in the end it sounds like you understand that son has to work. The logistics are a little harder this year, but I think you can find a solution that works for everyone.

I would suggest also if your son does get to stay and is not a seasonal employee that very soon he put in his request to have a certain shift on any day you have a special or religious obligation. Even though there is seniority involved and nothing is garunteed, there is hope he can work this kind of thing out well in advance. Lets face it, everybody has to work certain holidays due to the nature of the job. There is nothing that says you can't request a certain TIME during that day to meet your family and religious obligations as needed.

Kelly

 

[Pembo]

!?

 

[NHdisneylover]

AGain, could you pleas direct me to where I said that the parents should set up the ride. Also in regards to being a moocher, I said this when a pp said that her child finds a way to work when she isn't available. By calling friends co workers and family, screams moocher to me. sounding to me like it is a fairly frequent thing.

Let me start this over again for everyone that seem to think I want parents to set it up.

My first response was to the pp that stated finding a way home from work at 17 was part of growing up. I disagree, if the kid works weather he wants to or not, it isn't really part of growing up. Lots of kid never have to ask for a ride to work from friends or co workers. If they do sometimes fine, BUT it isn't part of growing up. Again for the 5th time, I said the kid because he is under 18 is, in the end, the parents responsibility not anyone else's. Doesn't mean that they should set up a ride, it means that if the kid can't get a ride, they have to figure it out. Not the kid. This isn't soccer or hanging with a friend it is work the parents should be able to get the kid if no one else can, if they can't well then he doesn't need to be working.

Repeat after me, I NEVER SAID THE PARENT SHOULD SET UP HIS RIDE TO OR FROM WORK. I don't know where parents responsibility comes off as parent setting up ride to or from work. I am responsible for my DD getting to different places, but she will call and ask for a ride sometimes with a parents friend, but if they can't take her, guess what. MY RESPONSIBILITY.

I also never said that he should take off because it is Christmas eve, I worked many myself. I got myself home thank you. My parents let me use their car. I also said that it wouldn't kill him to wait until his parents got home from church. But then a pp said geez his parents have a life why should they mess up their plans, well BECAUSE HE IS YOUR SON. And why does someone else have to do your job by getting our kid home. Let me see, that screams entitlement to me, (another word along with snowflake that loves to get tossed around here at the Dis).

So to sum it up. No he shouldn't call in to work, he should go. He can wait for his parents if he can't find a ride, In the end he is under 18 he is the parent responsibility. Finding a ride home on Christmas eve isn't part of growing up. and last of all, I NEVER SAID THE PARENT SHOULD SET UP A RIDE FOR THE KID.

Merry Christmas.

It didn't sound like you were responding to just that one PP when you said "most of you people are raising are moochers". Generally "most of you people" refers to the majority of the group (in this case posters on this thread) and not just one person.

 

[mhsjax]

It didn't sound like you were responding to just that one PP when you said "most of you people are raising are moochers". Generally "most of you people" refers to the majority of the group (in this case posters on this thread) and not just one person.

My apologies then, my dd was yelling at me for the 10th time that she needed the computer for homework, and I kept telling her just one minute, (was getting very dirty looks from dh, also before anyone says something about that, it was her computer that I was using.) so I may have not been very clear on that part.

 

[NHdisneylover]

My apologies then, my dd was yelling at me for the 10th time that she needed the computer for homework, and I kept telling her just one minute, (was getting very dirty looks from dh, also before anyone says something about that, it was her computer that I was using.) so I may have not been very clear on that part.

That's fine--most of us have been there Don't you get hate it when you get mad at others for taking you at your word when you did not realize it was your word?

 

[mhsjax]

That's fine--most of us have been there Don't you get hate it when you get mad at others for taking you at your word when you did not realize it was your word?

who me? NEVER.

 

[gometros]

To lighten the mood a bit and for those of us who were lucky enough not to work in industries where you had to work into Christmas Eve. I worked for a major computer company for many years. I started out as a young programmer right before the holidays. On the day before Christmas, we were all sitting at lunch at the director of the lab came around wishing everybody a Happy Holiday. One of the senior members of our group turned to me and asked me if I knew what that meant. When I looked oddly at her, I was told that when they come around like that the day before a major holiday, it means they don't expect to see you the rest of the day. Alas, those days are long gone.

To all service people who have to work on the holidays, may you stay safe and enjoy the holiday as best you can. We all appreciate your sacrifice.

 

[JLTraveling]

Holy cow. I have student employees and I often give them a ride home so they don't have to take the bus. I'll even go out of my way to drop them off. Many, many people have no issue being kind to a coworker. These aren't moochers and since they're all 18 and up, I'd be a bit appalled if their parents were calling me to set up a ride. If they need a ride somewhere, they ask me. If I can help, I do. If I can't, they check with someone else.

When I was young myself, my boss used to stop by my house on really snowy days and pick me up so I wouldn't have to drive. That was his idea because he was a kind man who worried about his employees' safety.

I totally believe that what goes around comes around. When I was 16 I worked at Universal. I had my own apartment and my own car. I used to give rides home to my coworkers any time of day or night. I was young and single, had nowhere else to be...why not? Different ones tried to pay me, and it was never the same person over and over, so I never felt dumped on or obligated. But I also never took the money, even if I was going across town. It felt good to be able to help out.

Fast forward ten years. I was living in the French Quarter in New Orleans. Like the majority of French Quarter residents, I didn't have a car. I walked to work when I worked in or near the Quarter. But for a variety of reasons, I ended up with a temp job as an administrative assistant for a lawyer on the West Bank (about 20 minutes by car). I took the bus back and forth--no big deal. But as I got to know the lawyer, at some point it came out that I was taking the bus. He INSISTED on driving me to and from work, from that point on. I tried my best to beg out, because I didn't want to impose. But he was just a super kind man who was sort of like a grandfather to me (well over retirement age, but couldn't stand the thought of being retired). It was really sweet and much appreciated.

So no, I don't see anything wrong with asking for rides or accepting rides. Isn't it just part of living in a society?

ETA: I also don't get the OP's insistence that her 17 year old son only ride with a friend's parent that she personally knows. What exactly is she planning to do when he's off at college in a year? Go to campus to personally vet each of his friends????

 

[princessmom29]

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!

the thing is that most of us here simply don't get what in the world could be wrong with a SEVENTEEN year old boy accepting a ride home from a co-worker. I personalyl don't see the problem. For all intents and purposes he is an adult. If we were talking about a child I could see it, but at 17 he should be old enough to handle it. He will be on his own VER shortly, and you are fooling youself if you think that he will never get into a car with someone you don't know. If he cannot be independent enough to find a ride home from work, I don't know how he is going to be able to handle college.

 

[Hannathy]

ETA: I also don't get the OP's insistence that her 17 year old son only ride with a friend's parent that she personally knows. What exactly is she planning to do when he's off at college in a year? Go to campus to personally vet each of his friends????

Yeah I didn't get that either? Doesn't he ever go out with friends that are driving? Hasn't a team mate or coach ever brought him home? I also do wonder what some of these parents are going to do when their kids go off to school in a few months.

 

[mhsjax]

I didn't get that memo, the one that says if your kid can't ask for a ride then he or she isn't ready for college. Was that sent as a mass e-mail, cause I didn't get it. OH wait, my kids have ridden with other people, well I did know all of them, does that make them ready for college? Just wondering.

 

[Disneywedding2010]

He's 17 and mom is worried about him. Okay, that's understandable. My mom still worries about me and I'm 27. However, my mom also let me figure things out for myself as well and didn't hold my hand 24/7. She knew if she did that there was no way I'd be able to make it out in the real world. He's almost an adult he needs to figure this issue out for himself. Consider it a learning experience that he will be able to use later on in life.

I had a job at 18 and didn't have my license yet. I walked a mile to and from work (and having cerebral palsy some days it wasn't easy) because my mom worked nights and was sleeping during the day. On days that it was raining or I was just to tired to walk home I asked for a ride home from a friend or if I knew my mom was up I'd call and ask her to come get me.

If your upset because he's working and he can't get a ride home in time for church and there is no other church service then I guess he just won't be able to go with you. Calling off from Wal-Mart during the busiest time of the year isn't the smartest idea. They could possibly let him go over it and then how would that look on his resume down the road?

 

[disneyfav4ever]

When I was 16/17 I got rides home from coworkers if I needed to, I don't think my parents knowing them or not knowing them was ever an issue.

 

[mhsjax]

Oh, I forgot one thing, I have a relative, she doesn't have a car. She gets to work, either bus or a friend, and trust me people, this is not someone who is mature enough to handle anything, she is a train wreck. So I really don't think being able to get yourself home from work is the standard with which to judge weather or not a kid is ready for college.

OH yeah, she walked home one night, darn near died. Man put a gun to her head. Other things happened but I won't go into them. Walking home at night, not a great idea.

 

[MarkBarbieri]

Wow, huge thread on a simple question. No, Walmart can't make your son work on Christmas Eve. They can, however, fire him if he doesn't.

It's a good lesson for a teenager to learn. You want to be in a position in life where you have a reasonably strong negotiating position with your employer. You do that by either becoming your own employer or by being an employee that will be hard to replace. The best way to do the latter is to obtain valuable skills.

 

[Wishing on a star]

I didn't get that memo, the one that says if your kid can't ask for a ride then he or she isn't ready for college. Was that sent as a mass e-mail, cause I didn't get it. OH wait, my kids have ridden with other people, well I did know all of them, does that make them ready for college? Just wondering.

I didn't know that a memo would be necessary to dictate common sense.

It is just this one time.
It is a holiday.
Life happens.
Surely, especially at Christmas, he can call on some friends or a coworker for a single act of kindness.

Perhaps the OP's son is not the most mature and/or independent 17 year old. I can totally understand that.
And, I can also see how it may hurt, that first holiday where life intrudes on childhood dreams and innocence.

But, to see a problem here, to the extent that some seem to.
(They just can't make my kid work.... He can't simply find a ride... or go with friends, etc...)


I am not issuing any personal attack here.
I really am not. ( I just have a way of being blunt and honest )
But, I do have to say that I do see validity to what these other posters are picking up on.

 

[AmazingGrace]

I think the key that I'm trying to teach my kids is, pay your dues. You get a job, you start out low on the food chain, you will be expected to work the less desirable hours. That's just the way it is. Like I said further up thread. My seventeen year old and I are both working the Christmas eve services at church. We can either fight it or work around it. So we will adjust our plans accordingly. Sounds like that is the only workable option for the OP in this situation.