Can Walmart make my son work Christmas Eve?

[Tinkermommy]

It's not about what the church says are holy days. To me it is about what I believe. I believe that the Christmas Eve service is important. Especially if you are an integral part of it in any way. My God comes before any of the other people working at Wal-Mart. I answer to God and not to them. I'm just sharing my opinion. It may be different than yours, and that's ok. Not gonna argue over it. It just is how it is for me.

What if you looked at it this way?

God is just as much in residence at Wal-mart as he is in a church. If you are working you can be "in church" serving God's children in a loving way. Spreading Christmas cheer to some harried people.

Maybe bagging groceries or helping a mom with three kids in the cart get home quickly is the most holy thing you can do.

Just another perspective.

 

[Imzadi]

I'm one of the few who thinks he should just call off. Of course I am a religious person so God means more to me than any job on Earth, especially a teenager's part time job.

I understand about teaching about work ethic, but Christmas Eve working at Walmart is not the time I would choose to teach that lesson. Of course this is all assuming he doesn't want to work on Christmas Eve. If he DOES want to work then I would just drop him off and continue with the family plans for the evening.

I just believe there is a time and place for everything....yes kids need to be taught about work ethic, but I wouldn't choose Christmas Eve as my time to demand my child go to work in order to learn a lesson, unless the lesson is that some crappy part time job is more important than my family's religious values.

Yes, but the time and place for that was BEFORE you accepted the job IMO. When you work retail some things are pretty much given.
1) you will need to work on weekends and nights.
2) you will need to work on major holidays.

So if a religious holiday is that important to you and the time to think about that is before you accept a position that may require you to work on that day.

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."

 

[NHdisneylover]

It's not about what the church says are holy days. To me it is about what I believe. I believe that the Christmas Eve service is important. Especially if you are an integral part of it in any way. My God comes before any of the other people working at Wal-Mart. I answer to God and not to them. I'm just sharing my opinion. It may be different than yours, and that's ok. Not gonna argue over it. It just is how it is for me.

Okay--so that is your own personally belief. Having that did you just call in on the days you believe you should have off and expect co-workers to take up the slack, or did you let your employer know when being hired (if applying for a job which typically includes hours which conflict with your beliefs) what limitations would be on your availability due to your beliefs and then make an effort to work other times which did not conflict for you but which others needed so as to be a team player?

Okay, but I'm sure you acknowledge that the law (quoted by another poster, above) cannot go by that. That would give everyone the unequivocal right to unilaterally dictate their working conditions to their employers.

So, operationally, in the context of this thread, principles such as yours are most useful for determining whether to quit a job or not, if push comes to shove.

 

[jrmasm]

I don't work retail. I work in the finanical industry. I'm working Xmas Eve. I've been in my job for 16 years.

Sometimes sh*t just happens. Go to church when he's not working.

 

[jen0610]

On of the girls DS goes to school with works at one of our WalMarts. They are closing their doors at 8 p.m. on the 24th. She is scheduled to work, but earlier in the day. And seeing as the kids are on Christmas break that week, she is scheduled for a full 8 hour shift.

No one has the day off. They are heavy on their staffing that day, so that they can continuesly restock their shelves through out the day. While the store closes at 8, there is a large number of emplyees that are on the schedule to work until 11 p.m..

 

[Revulkcor]

I know the Walmarts around here where I live in Central Florida you are required to be 18+ to have a job at Walmart. If he's 18+ he's not a minor according to Walmart and most jobs and he has to work Christmas Eve. Like other people say, if he calls out for any reason unless he's deathly ill, can result in termination. I had a friend who did that for Christmas Eve last year at McDonalds where I used to work.

 

[Dax]

Most places require you to work Christmas Eve if it falls on a weekday...I am only off because I will be on vacation from work..otherwise, if I was scheduled, I would be there...heck, we work 24-7 365...the airport never closes, so we have people missing their kid's first Christmas because of being here. So it happens.

Dh works for Publix, and may have to work as well. He asked for the day off, very early in fact..and Publix wont give vacation the 2week prior to a major holiday..so he is hoping to get his day off on that day..wishful thinking though

 

[EllenFrasier]

I was wondering the same thing. Why is this throwing everyone into a tail spin? Mom, Dad and the rest of the fam go about the day as normal. Minor child joins them before & after work. Happens all the time in retail & plenty of other professions.

Bottom line is unless he can find someone to take his shift, he's working. As a former retail manager I can promise if he no shows or calls in he'll be let go.

OP here - Wow, lots of replies to this post. Thanks to everyone for responding.

He talked to the manager yesterday and she will not change his shift. He's off from school that day, so asked if he could come in earlier so he could leave earlier and was told it was not possible. The schedules are set up bya computer system and cannot be changed (according to her). As in some jobs in retail sales, his schedule is never the same so he had no way of knowing way ahead of time if he had to work or not. I don't think it would have made a difference anyway. He will be there because he has a responsibility to his employer which is part of growing up.

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.

 

[wenrob]

So question for you: When you're staying home so others don't have to work do you use power? Water? Gas? Turn on the TV or the Radio? Take out the trash? Because guess what? There are people at work on a holiday so you can do those things. Not skeleton crews, things are running as normal, they've got to do it. What if you have an emergency? Need the fire department or have to go to the hospital? Should there be skeleton crews there too? Or only retail/service employees? My Dad was a chef for 30yrs, had to work every Thanksgiving and Christmas and yet now that he's retired he takes my Step Mother and her mother out every year on these holidays. Not everyone celebrates the way you do and not everyone sees an issue with working on the holidays, it's just what you do or choose not to do.

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...

 

[phorsenuf]

OP here - Wow, lots of replies to this post. Thanks to everyone for responding.

He talked to the manager yesterday and she will not change his shift. He's off from school that day, so asked if he could come in earlier so he could leave earlier and was told it was not possible. The schedules are set up bya computer system and cannot be changed (according to her). As in some jobs in retail sales, his schedule is never the same so he had no way of knowing way ahead of time if he had to work or not. I don't think it would have made a difference anyway. He will be there because he has a responsibility to his employer which is part of growing up.

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.

Couldn't he take a cab home or ask a fellow worker for a ride? I know my kids had to get rides before if we weren't going to be around. It's just another of those 'part of growing up' things.

 

[EllenFrasier]

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.

That is my oldest son who just turned 21 in November. He did find a job working in an Elementary School cafeteria part time and is very happy there.
This is my next oldest son who is 17 years old. He took this job starting in October I believe it was, and so far he's missed Thanksgiving dinner with his family and now he'll miss Christmas Eve at church. It's more than just sitting in a pew in a building somewhere. He's been a candle lighter since 7th grade and it just won't seem right not having him with us. I'm keeping my thoughts to myself though, keeping it low key so he won't know it is upsetting me. I don't want him to quit the job over this. Good thing they are closed on Christmas day or he'd be there then too!
Thanks for remembering my oldest son and our situation with him. It was a long battle, but I think for now we can rest because he has a job at the school and is happy there.

 

[princessmom29]

DH and I both workedin retail for several years. His schedule is his schedule. Real jobs don't always take what is convinent for mom and dad into account he either goes to work, or doesn't show and will likely get fired. You don't skip work around the holidays in retail and expect to keep your job.

 

[Disneywedding2010]

Having worked at Wal-Mart during the Christmas holiday, yes they can make him work. However, Wal-Mart closes around 6pm (may vary from wal-mart to wal-mart) on Christmas Eve. They are not open on Christmas Day. So if your local Wal-Mart follows these same guidelines then there should be no problem in him getting off in time for Mass.

He has to understand that its retail and you work when they need you. The way the economy is right now most people are just thankful to have jobs. He'll have to realize that you don't always get the days off that you want if you want to keep your job. The holiday season is the busiest time of the year for retail (Wal-Mart especially). They have a set block of dates from right before Thanksgiving through New Years where people can't take vacation time because the stores are so busy they need the employees working.

He can always try and switch shifts with someone if possible. If he finds someone to switch a shift with then they both need to go to their department manager (I was a cashier so I had to go to the customer service manager), you explain to the manager "we want to switch shifts". If the manager is okay with it then they will all 3 go back to the schedule board, the manager will note the change on the schedule and they will all 3 intial it stating the change was made.

 

[Andtototoo]

My teen dd works at Sears and she will undoubtedly have to work on Christmas Eve. She normally only works a few hours per week, but during this season, she's had a LOT more hours.

She's made a LOT more money, but most important, from working there the last few months and being over-scheduled, at their mercy and treated like crap, she learned the lesson I wanted her to learn which was -- as she said this weekend -- "I'm going to make something of myself so hopefully I will never ever never have to work a minimum wage retail job again."

So, OP, hopefully this scheduling will also be a teachable moment for your son.

 

[kirstenb1]

OP, sorry to have mixed up your sons. I'm so glad your older one has found a good fit for him. Our younger dd has some special needs, so this is close to my heart.

It sounds like you'll work everything out with your younger one and work/church. Merry Christmas to you all!!!

 

[allison443]

That is my oldest son who just turned 21 in November. He did find a job working in an Elementary School cafeteria part time and is very happy there.
This is my next oldest son who is 17 years old. He took this job starting in October I believe it was, and so far he's missed Thanksgiving dinner with his family and now he'll miss Christmas Eve at church. It's more than just sitting in a pew in a building somewhere. He's been a candle lighter since 7th grade and it just won't seem right not having him with us. I'm keeping my thoughts to myself though, keeping it low key so he won't know it is upsetting me. I don't want him to quit the job over this. Good thing they are closed on Christmas day or he'd be there then too!
Thanks for remembering my oldest son and our situation with him. It was a long battle, but I think for now we can rest because he has a job at the school and is happy there.

OP I remember your situation with your older son, I'm glad to hear his job is working out well for him!!

 

[jen0610]

OP here - Wow, lots of replies to this post. Thanks to everyone for responding.

He talked to the manager yesterday and she will not change his shift. He's off from school that day, so asked if he could come in earlier so he could leave earlier and was told it was not possible. The schedules are set up bya computer system and cannot be changed (according to her). As in some jobs in retail sales, his schedule is never the same so he had no way of knowing way ahead of time if he had to work or not. I don't think it would have made a difference anyway. He will be there because he has a responsibility to his employer which is part of growing up.

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.

What is the time between when he gets off of work and the time that church services is over and you could get there to pick him up?

I know several kids that once their shifts are over, if they are not yet driving themselves and there is a schedule conflict, they hang out waiting for their ride. If he would have to wait longer than an hour, I might skip church, but more than likely just leave a little bit before the service is over to get him. If his wait was under an hour, I would tell him to take a book to read, Ipod to listen to, gameboy to play and find a nice quite place outta the way and we'll be there as quick as we can.

 

[AshleyW]

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

If your son has no children of his own, seems more appropriate for him to work Christmas Eve than his coworker with 3 kids or the single dad whose ONLY chance to see his own children is on Christmas Eve.

When I was single, I worked every holiday. And figured out how and when to attend church around my work schedule. Sometimes I missed Mass on Christmas Eve or Day, but I went the next day or the day before and I'm sure that was satisfactory in God's eyes.

Just another perspective.

Ditto, from another 911 dispatcher. I'll be working Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year's Eve and New Year's Day this year. Sucks, but I don't have any family in town, so I'd rather work than make my extremely devout Catholic coworker w/5 kids work.. plus, getting paid double time those days is nice too

 

[mhsjax]

Couldn't he take a cab home or ask a fellow worker for a ride? I know my kids had to get rides before if we weren't going to be around. It's just another of those 'part of growing up' things.

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.

 

[mdsoccermom]

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.

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.