Can Walmart make my son work Christmas Eve?

[Queen2PrincessG]

I don't see why both parents have to miss the services. Can't you take separate cars and then one person leave 10 or 15 minutes early?

Carpooling is another great idea.

 

[mhsjax]

Really? You've never carpooled before or made arrangements with a parent to take or pick up your kid from something when perhaps something came up?

Just last week I couldn't pick my daughter up from a soccer practice which I normally would do, so I asked someone else if they could bring her home.

I knew this was going to come up, I should have addressed this. We always carpool, cheer practice, soccer, stuff like that. But I was responding to the pp that stated that for a child working a part time job on Christmas eve getting a ride home was part of growing up, NOPE. You arranged for a car pool to a sporting event or practice. I will arrange for that also, in fact today I will pick up my DD friend for cheer practice as I do every Tuesday. But that is in no way the same as someone saying that a child needs to find a way home from work on christmas eve as part of growing up.

If he he has a close friend or someone that lives in his area maybe, but to assume that this is a responsibility of a child is wrong. Yes he is 17, but still. He doesn't have a car apparently, he is working, legally he is still a minor. And as such, it is his parent responsibility, and they seem to know this.

OP, I would do what someone else suggested, maybe if he can just hang out for a while until you get out of church, then you can come and get him. Besides, he can just sit there an laugh about all the fools that just remembered that oh yeah, tomorrow is Christmas. I know I would have fun watching.

 

[NotUrsula]

I disagree, this is a part time job for a teen ager, getting him home isn't anyone's responsibility except maybe his parents and they realize this. sorry, but getting kids to get a ride home with someone else when normally the parents do, is just a parent pushing their job off on someone else. Especially on Christmas eve. A cab I could see if it wasn't too expensive but depending on someone else, nope.

I'll bet that there is an older co-worker on that shift who would jump at the chance to make an easy $15 or so giving the kid a ride home after work. Cheaper than a cab, and the parents get to go to church.
(And yes, I know that's probably negating much of the pay for being there, but we all know that it isn't about that day's pay; it's about keeping the job when he's lucky to have one.)

It's mooching when you expect it as a regular favor, but altogether different when you're willing to pay cash on the barrelhead for the person's time and trouble.

 

[FlightlessDuck]

they need to extend the same courtesy to me for my holiday, which also runs from sundown to sundown, hence Saturday evening services count for Sunday

Wait, there's a scorecard?

 

[mhsjax]

I'll bet that there is an older co-worker on that shift who would jump at the chance to make an easy $15 or so giving the kid a ride home after work. Cheaper than a cab, and the parents get to go to church.
(And yes, I know that's probably negating much of the pay for being there, but we all know that it isn't about that day's pay; it's about keeping the job when he's lucky to have one.)

It's mooching when you expect it as a regular favor, but altogether different when you're willing to pay cash on the barrelhead for the person's time and trouble.

True. And in all honesty, I would be glad to give someone a ride home. It was just the attitude that him finding a ride home with someone is part of growing up that bothered me.

 

[RadioNate]

DITTO! DITTO! DITTO!

Angelhalo, if you have kids, you'd better be teaching them now, that there is a whole slew of professions they'd better not get into, as they will be expected to work. when someone asks them what do they want to be when they grow up and they say: Retail, police, fire, nursing, doctors, firemen, senior engineer, Broadway show actors & employees & musicians, restaurant employees, Disney employees, toll booth workers, etc. , you'd better be prepared to say, "No dear, you can't become that, as you may have to work on Christmas eve. Pick another career."

Add any sort of media because I just asked my DH if he had to work Christmas Eve since it is a Friday and he does. Being the boss he thinks he can arrange things so he won't have to work all day but he'll have to go in for at least some of the day.

*snip*

The reason it throws the rest of the family's plans off is because we are his transportation to and from work. He can get to work just fine, but I believe his shift will end when we would be at church - so one of the parents will have to skip church to pick him up and it will be too late to attend by then.

I'm sure it will all work out. Just thought I'd ask in case anyone had something similar happen to them.

Why not pick him up late from work? I can't imagine he'd be hanging around too much longer. How long is church service? So he has to wait 45 min or so, he'll live. I actually wouldn't count on him being able to leave exactly when his shift ends anyway.

 

[CPT Tripss]

You know, if NO ONE shopped, dined out, went to the movies on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, Thanksgiving, this wouldn't be a problem. Stores and restaurants would close, or work with a thin skeleton crew, because no one would want to be there.

But as long as people want to take their family to eat at IHOP on the way to Grandma's, folks aren't done shopping on Christmas Eve (why does Dec 25 sneak up on us every year??) even shop and eat out on Christmas Day, there will be mothers, fathers, sons and daughters missing out on family traditions.

I've spent much of my young adult life working restaurants/retail during these holidays. And nothing burned me more than the whole fake-symapthy "sorry you have to work on Christmas" from customers too self-centered to realize if you were truely sorry, you'd have your pancakes at home on Christmas morning and not at IHOP. Seriously, did you know IHOP's busiest day is Christmas Day? And no it's not full from people who have no place to go, or non-Christmas people either

This year, I work Christmas Eve at Target. I'm a mom of 3 kiddos. I would love to have the entire day off, and my family would love to have me home. But traditions will get tweaked around, and we'll still have a lovely Christmas.

That said, you can bet your sweet booty that when I get Thanksgiving and Christmas days off, WE STAY HOME!!! It works both ways, if I don't want to work those days, I have no business asking someone else to cater to me at the stores/restaurants on those days too.

OP, since this upsets you, I hope you will think twice in the future before YOU shop at Wal-Mart on Christmas Eve, etc...

Remeber though descovy, Christmas season is a religious holiday for Christians. We have many in this country who are not and do not celebrate the holidays.
My SIl is Jehovah witness and they go out on Christmas day because for them it's just like any other day.

Surely, a Skeleton crew could handle the Jehovah Witness crowd. It wouldn't have to be all hand on deck, busy, busy busy (mandatory shift or et fired!) because all the non- Christmas folks need a vaccuum cleaner at Walmart or a cup of coffee at IHOP. In fact the ratio of restaurant/retail employeees who don't "do Christmas" could probably handle the "don't do Christmas" crowd of customers.

Sorry, the crowds tou see Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, Thanksgiving are folks fully participating in said holiday, who also see nothing wrong going out those days *as long as their loved ones don't have to work!*

I do feel really bad that he may have to miss Christmas Eve services, the way my cookie crumbles we will be missing them this year, too. Our church offers 4 services though- a 5, 7, 9, and 11. I would bet he could cut a compromise- maybe ask his employer if he could be an hour late because he's going to the early service? Especially since Walmart (like other retailers) are likely going to be laying off quite a few people in mid January, it would make your son look good if we was willing to work with the company and be there. Since he's a minor, he's probably not working longer than a 5-6 hour shift I assume?

Thankfully, we have diversity in America.

If nothing else at least we can be assured Elena Kagan has a sense of humor. During {confirmation} hearings Sen. Lindsey Graham asked Kagan, in relation to a question about the Christmas Day Bomber, “where were you on Christmas day?” Responded Kagan, to a deserved round of applause: “You know, like all Jews, I was probably at a Chinese restaurant.” Point Kagan

 

[KadysMom]

My DH works nights and for the past 3 years he has worked christmas eve, and since he works night he has gotten home around 4am christmas morning. So he spends a portion of christmas day sleeping. Its a job and you do what you have to.

 

[surfergirl602]

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.

If it was so important for him to be with you for Christmas eve then he should have asked for the evening off. It doesn't matter if he's a minor. Why can't the parents still go to church?

 

[AKL_Megs]

Why not pick him up late from work? I can't imagine he'd be hanging around too much longer. How long is church service? So he has to wait 45 min or so, he'll live.

Yeah, I don't get it!

I remember when I was 15 or 16 and worked before I had a license or a car, and my parents would pick me up from work.

If there was traffic, or weather, or something that happened at home, or some other act of God, I had to wait there for someone to come and get me.

I remember SPECIFICALLY one time, on a Saturday, when my mom got held over at a dentist appointment. Guess what? I had to wait a WHOLE SIXTY MINUTES! Can you even believe it!!!

You have four options:

- He calls in sick and lets everyone else at work down, because THEY showed up.

- He waits for you at Walmart in the break room until your church services are done.

- He finds someone who lives close to you and gets a ride home with them.

- Or, he works, and you get used to the fact that your baby boy is growing up and being a man and WORKING.

 

[RadioNate]

Yeah, I don't get it!

I remember when I was 15 or 16 and worked before I had a license or a car, and my parents would pick me up from work.

If there was traffic, or weather, or something that happened at home, or some other act of God, I had to wait there for someone to come and get me.

I remember SPECIFICALLY one time, on a Saturday, when my mom got held over at a dentist appointment. Guess what? I had to wait a WHOLE SIXTY MINUTES! Can you even believe it!!!

You have four options:

- He calls in sick and lets everyone else at work down, because THEY showed up.

- He waits for you at Walmart in the break room until your church services are done.

- He finds someone who lives close to you and gets a ride home with them.

- Or, he works, and you get used to the fact that your baby boy is growing up and being a man and WORKING.

Does he drive at all, the 17 year old? He should have a license. Since the family would only need one car to get to church why can't he borrow a car to work?

I'm with you on the options. Calling in sick WILL result in termination but whatever. I'm all for the rest.

 

[AKL_Megs]

Does he drive at all, the 17 year old. He should have a license. Since the family would only need one car to get to church why can't he borrow a car to work?

Yeah, there is option five!

I think, in all honesty, that this has MUCH MORE to do with her not liking the fact that he has to work part of the evening/night, and NOT so much to do with him missing church service. There are many ways around the issue of picking the boy up.

 

[phorsenuf]

True. And in all honesty, I would be glad to give someone a ride home. It was just the attitude that him finding a ride home with someone is part of growing up that bothered me.

Why? What's he going to do when he's in his 20's and his car breaks down? Is he just going to call in sick to work because he doesn't have a ride? No, he's going to make arrangements to get to and from work. Not too sure why you are so appalled at this notion.

If the kid wants to work a part-time job then it is his responsibility to figure out the logistics, not the parents. They are not the one making the kid work.

I was always carting my kids back and forth to work but if there was a situation when I was unavailable to give them a ride then it was up to them to figure out a solution.

Sorry, but I'm not raising snowflakes. I'm raising kids to function in the real world.

 

[surfergirl602]

As a former 911 dispatcher and the wife of a paramedic I have to point out that somebody has to work the holidays!

Yep! My husband is in the Army. He doesn't get any holidays off just because they are a holiday. He also doesn't get Christmas eve off. We go to church without him most times anyway, because he's "working". We are just thankful enough to have him with us this year.

(this year he does get Christmas off, so that's a blessing!)

 

[AKL_Megs]

Why? What's he going to do when he's in his 20's and his car breaks down? Is he just going to call in sick to work because he doesn't have a ride? No, he's going to make arrangements to get to and from work. Not too sure why you are so appalled at this notion.

If the kid wants to work a part-time job then it is his responsibility to figure out the logistics, not the parents. They are not the one making the kid work.

I was always carting my kids back and forth to work but if there was a situation when I was unavailable to give them a ride then it was up to them to figure out a solution.

Sorry, but I'm not raising snowflakes. I'm raising kids to function in the real world.

Amen to that!

 

[aaarcher86]

Yep! My husband is in the Army. He doesn't get any holidays off just because they are a holiday. He also doesn't get Christmas eve off. We go to church without him most times anyway, because he's "working". We are just thankful enough to have him with us this year.

(this year he does get Christmas off, so that's a blessing!)

Thank you! My husband's schedule happens to fall with working the day before Christmas Eve and the day after Christmas. Unfortunately, he'll miss our family Christmas this year since we'll be holding that on the 26th but such is life.

Our Uncle will be working Xmas Eve as a firefighter.

It's not just the crappy jobs working the holidays.

As far as I know, just about every church offers multiple masses on Xmas eve and Xmas.

 

[AKL_Megs]

It's not just the crappy jobs working the holidays.

No.

My husband is a police officer, and this is the FIRST Christmas he has had off in I don't know how many years. Unfortunately, we're doing our family Christmas on Sunday, and this morning, he was ordered for overtime on that day.

Perhaps we should tell his work he needs to go to church... I'm kidding.

 

[surfergirl602]

Thank you! My husband's schedule happens to fall with working the day before Christmas Eve and the day after Christmas. Unfortunately, he'll miss our family Christmas this year since we'll be holding that on the 26th but such is life.

Our Uncle will be working Xmas Eve as a firefighter.

It's not just the crappy jobs working the holidays.

As far as I know, just about every church offers multiple masses on Xmas eve and Xmas.

My hubby's captain is single and he told my hubby to stay home. We'll be bringing over some Christmas dinner to his office.

 

[fairygirl]

op, i"m thinking your son has some kind of disability (i may have the wrong person) and has had a hard go of making it in the work force. If this is a job he wants to stay with, he really needs to work on christmas eve.

I worked at a department store throughout college, and everyone was scheduled christmas eve. Just the nature of the job. Maybe you could make lemonade out of lemons and make a new tradition. Have "church" at home after he gets off work. Have a nice family meal, and then just read the story of jesus's birth, or watch a christmas movie. Listen to christmas carols. Light an advent wreath. Just celebrate the holidays amongst yourselves. Our church will have services on the 26th too---maybe you could go then?

I know it's stressful, but just try to celebrate in a different way. Your son sounds like he's trying hard to find his niche.

this!

 

[aaarcher86]

My hubby's captain is single and he told my hubby to stay home. We'll be bringing over some Christmas dinner to his office.

He sounds like an A+ guy!