Working over Christmas

[carryfast]

Bigtruck3:

WhiteWhiteWhite:
I’ve got 10 working Christmas Day. Mainly parked up in Europe ready to unload hanging meat on Boxing Day. All volunteers. All get extra for doing it. 4 in Spain. 2 in Italy. 1 in South of France. 2 in Germany. 1 in Austria. Some people don’t like Christmas and want to work for Various reason. Single or maybe Chasing the £££. Each to their own. Shouldn’t criticise someone’s choice to work just because you don’t want to.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

What most people don’t understand is in mainland Europe Christmas is a few hours on the day and that’s it
They don’t close for even a few days like uk and Ireland
It’s a eye opener thinking every where does as we do but no it’s totally different
Home for dinner on the day and then back to work if you have to
It’s a celebration of a day there not a summer holiday like 2 weeks

It should make anyone wonder who these muppets,pushing the idea of the supposed Euro workers’ utopia,really are.The only logical conclusion is they’re all bleedin bankers and bosses.

One of my biggest shocks was when I started on the Council.After working for 5 years in the factory sector from leaving school.Which as a result meant a one or two week Christmas holiday regime instantly turned into a two day one.Before I’d left school I can remember not being able to understand why my similar factory worker father automatically had one or two weeks off at Christmas,none of which affected holiday entitlement,and the generally accepted 11 am finish and to the pub on the final day before the start of the holiday.While my shop worker mum worked a full day on Christmas Eve.But even then never worked on Boxing Day or Sundays like they do today,which helped in the case of years where Christmas Day and Boxing day were preceded or followed by a Sunday.

Although I prefer my holidays in the Summer there was always a certain magic about that winter break eating turkey and ham sandwiches drinking beer and spirits and feet up in front of the coal fire watching the Christmas telly.

While what’s being described here obviously isn’t case of trading Christmas winter working for extra holiday entitlement in the Summer for example.Like the shop workers unions in the day and since Mugs.While that so called ‘choice’ inevitably ends up being forced on everyone when such holiday entitlements are inevitably effectively wiped out for everyone as a result.

[bigtruck3]

lynchy:

eurotrans:

Nite Owl:

Conor:
Is it too much to ask to have just two days off a year for everyone for non-critical stuff? Personally I see companies that do this as run by money grabbing [zb] and the fact you think you’re being generous by letting them have their wives and kids spend their Xmas jammed into the seats in ■■■■■■ vans and buying them a beer when I’m sure they’d rather be at home seeing the rest of their family as well just solidifies my opinion of you as a deluded money grabbing [zb].

For those of us without families, christmas can be a very difficult time. Personally I would jump at the chance to work it and get the [zb] away from all the fake, enforced, happy family [zb] that we’re incessantly being force fed at this time of year. In fact, I’d almost be tempted to work for free just for the sense of normality.

Get a job on the rail then,but don’t be working for free it’s a grand a shift

Judging by your response to a grand a shift being big money,guess you haven’t been on rail job that long?
A lot are just paying double time on ten hours n £4/500 nr bonus this year,going back twenty years was £1440 shift,

Is it Santa claus money or 3 wishes money for ⁶

[kjw21]

Heading back out Boxing Day night

[henrys_cat]

lynchy:

eurotrans:

Nite Owl:

Conor:
Is it too much to ask to have just two days off a year for everyone for non-critical stuff? Personally I see companies that do this as run by money grabbing [zb] and the fact you think you’re being generous by letting them have their wives and kids spend their Xmas jammed into the seats in ■■■■■■ vans and buying them a beer when I’m sure they’d rather be at home seeing the rest of their family as well just solidifies my opinion of you as a deluded money grabbing [zb].

For those of us without families, christmas can be a very difficult time. Personally I would jump at the chance to work it and get the [zb] away from all the fake, enforced, happy family [zb] that we’re incessantly being force fed at this time of year. In fact, I’d almost be tempted to work for free just for the sense of normality.

Get a job on the rail then,but don’t be working for free it’s a grand a shift

Judging by your response to a grand a shift being big money,guess you haven’t been on rail job that long?
A lot are just paying double time on ten hours n £4/500 nr bonus this year,going back twenty years was £1440 shift,

That’s par for the course now, the ■■■ has dropped out of the job. Too many on here now since the recent boom years and the rates are on a downward trend. NWR recommended rates are either triple time and no bonus or double time and £400, That’s for shifts starting after 1800 on 24th and finishing before 0630 on 27th. Basic trackrat will get around £640-£760/shift depending on rostered times, us linesmen and operators are getting around a grand/shift.

Job I’m on, we’ve got to provide our own grub and the main contractor (a civils firm) didn’t want to provide for their lads so stopped our firm (track and overheads) from providing a butty van so there would be no issues from their lads

I don’t mind working it as its par for the course for us and something we’re used to, but if I was sat in a truck somewhere parked up then not for me. At least we’re busy doing something.

[edd1974]

We’re In today Xmas ever…god.knows why.
Is same every Xmas eve.
Come it at 8am there’s nothing to do only 8 of us work there we just sit in office chat have a brew give our trucks a bit of a spring clean then get sent home at 11.
I don’t get it at all where’s the xmas spirit?
But on the plus side thats it then untill 2nd of jan

[lolipop]

Few years back I was on TNT Newsfast which was rota working it was nothing unusual to be sitting in Wapping or Knowsley on a Xmas night waiting to load papers ready for the wholesalers on Boxing Day. My first year I was “on” I worked it out next year off WRONG it was a Leap Year which fetch me back on. It was surprising at the time how many of the wholesalers said the complaints in the newsagents from customers if they did`nt get a paper delivery on Boxing Day,no concern how or who got them delivered.

[peirre]

It’s a raging storm here in Cyprus atm, it kicked off yesterday evening and has ramped up since then, however Thursday onwards it’s forecast to return to the sunny 20-22’C it was when I arrived over a week ago

[franglais]

I’ve never worked Xmas day. Got the last (western channel) boat home home than once, and once had a breakdown* running for it.

Volunteered for a New Year run a while ago. As said different countries celebrate in different ways. I expected Bordeaux town centre to be very lively. It wasn’t. Found somewhere open to eat and then a bar willing enough to charge lots of money to provide some drink.
Not a huge success, but different.

*truck, not nervous.

[beefy4605]

I hit it lucky this year . Stepped out of the truck last Saturday (21st) and have been told I’m on the 20.00 boat on Boxing day evening . 5 days holiday at our busiest time of the year is pretty much unheard of when you work for one of the large food retailers ( can’t name them but if you rearange S+M you’ll get the idea ) It comes with the teritory you should know what your getting into when you start the job and you either accept it or move on . We can be working right up to Christmas eve dinnertime and be back out on Boxing day evening if required . Infrastructure projects sometimes have to be done during holidays to minimise the disruption I’m sure your workers understand this and you made it clear to them when they took the job that this could be a possibility . Letting the families go as well is a nice touch and I’m sure the drivers appreciate it - you could have left the families at home and had guys lying in trucks by themselves and kids missing their parents at Christmas.
Take the drivers and the families out for a meal in a nice hotel to show your appreciation when you get them all home or something similar .

[rowley010]

Plenty of other jobs where people have to work. Emergency services, Nurses, Doctors, anyone working in care for people or animal care, on call emergency vet, that’s just Xmas day and I’m sure there’s more I’ve not mentioned. Then Boxing Day if you work in retail or McDonald’s Greggs etc your back in because people having just got a load of presents on Xmas day can’t wait an extra day or 2 to go and buy more stuff

[commonrail]

I’ve only got stats off.

[robroy]

I’m with Conor (did I really say that …sorry Conor ) apart from the personal remarks he chucked at the o/p .

Way I see all this is I find it amazing (not to mention a bit crap ) how some drivers just readily accept it, and say that it’s ‘‘Part of the course’’ or '‘The done thing’ or ‘‘You should not have started in the job if you can’t accept it’’ .

Like every ■■■■ thing else about this job when we hear this from drivers, or even if these quotes are sometimes chucked back on this forum, (such as when the ridiculous hours we are expected to work are brought up etc) …It’s not written in stone, and more importantly, it’s ONLY that way because it’s been devised that way by those in charge! …, and do you reckon those guys are at home or working?

Ok, I know and realise fully there are some specialised jobs out there, like agriculture related haulage, trucks used alongside railway maintenance, maybe the fresh food sector, (and other stuff I can’t think of ) where 24/7 cover is essential, and then at the other end of the scale, there’s the poor sod who is stuck abroad due to unforseens, over Christmas Day.
However (generally speaking) I do not think in Century 21, any driver should be forced to work over Christmas, who would rather be off.
Just had a call off my mate, rightly moaning that we can’t watch the football in the pub Boxing night, as he has been told he has to come in on the Friday …although there is very little to do, and what there is could easily wait until Monday. (they were initially told beginning of year, not to book any hols that week )

On the other hand anybody who wants to, …Crack on, fill yer boots, and there must be numerous agency guys willing to cover for any driver who doesn’t, surely…, but a guy who wants to be with his family, but is made to haul non essential general goods about, …just because it’s part of his shift pattern, is a bit crap imo.

Maybe it’s all to do with my old gripe of the reduction, diminishing and general lack of present day’s workers rights…but would the country REALLY come to a standstill if (as in previous times) everybody was off over Christmas.

In past days it was the only period where I could guarantee to spend a good couple of weeks with my kids, and even now when they have grown up, I still take a couple of weeks off at Christmas, and can never understand those who come on here every year bored during their hols, and chomping at the bit,…to get back to their ■■■■ trucks , …cab happiness at it’s worst.
Ok maybe simplistic views, but I’m sure you see my general points about being expected, and/or forced to work,.essentially against your will.

[harry_monk]

robroy:
I still take a couple of weeks off at Christmas, and can never understand those who come on here every year bored during their hols, and chomping at the bit,…to get back to their [zb] trucks , …cab happiness at it’s worst.
Ok maybe simplistic views, but I’m sure you see my general points about being expected, and/or forced to work,.essentially against your will.

With me it’s more that I only work between September and March so I generally do as much as possible over the Winter and take my time off in the Summer. Christmas doesn’t really mean a great deal to me anyway.

[robroy]

Harry Monk:

robroy:
I still take a couple of weeks off at Christmas, and can never understand those who come on here every year bored during their hols, and chomping at the bit,…to get back to their [zb] trucks , …cab happiness at it’s worst.
Ok maybe simplistic views, but I’m sure you see my general points about being expected, and/or forced to work,.essentially against your will.

With me it’s more that I only work between September and March so I generally do as much as possible over the Winter and take my time off in the Summer. Christmas doesn’t really mean a great deal to me anyway.

Whatever suits you Harry, …If I’m honest it don’t mean too much to me since the kids grew up, and I certainly ain’t religious, I just still enjoy the time off from all the crap.
Point I was making is every year you get guys on here moaning about the job (ok me included. ) but then when they do get a decent break from it at Christmas , they’re then moaning about being at home too long…and wanting to get back to it ffs.
If I could afford it, I’d be taking a permanent holiday from it all,.as much as I’m ok with my present work.

[bigtruck3]

robroy:

Harry Monk:

robroy:
I still take a couple of weeks off at Christmas, and can never understand those who come on here every year bored during their hols, and chomping at the bit,…to get back to their [zb] trucks , …cab happiness at it’s worst.
Ok maybe simplistic views, but I’m sure you see my general points about being expected, and/or forced to work,.essentially against your will.

With me it’s more that I only work between September and March so I generally do as much as possible over the Winter and take my time off in the Summer. Christmas doesn’t really mean a great deal to me anyway.

Whatever suits you Harry, …If I’m honest it don’t mean too much to me since the kids grew up, and I certainly ain’t religious, I just still enjoy the time off from all the crap.
Point I was making is every year you get guys on here moaning about the job (ok me included. ) but then when they do get a decent break from it at Christmas , they’re then moaning about being at home too long…and wanting to get back to it ffs.
If I could afford it, I’d be taking a permanent holiday from it all,.as much as I’m ok with my present work.

I suppose people have to let off steam somewhere, just like yourself, there should be a list of the top moners somewhere

[muckles]

robroy:
In past days it was the only period where I could guarantee to spend a good couple of weeks with my kids, and even now when they have grown up, I still take a couple of weeks off at Christmas,

It never was that everybody in normal non essential jobs got 2 weeks off over Christmas, that was mostly in the manufacturing industry, 2 week shut down suited many companies, far more efficient to shut down and carry out maintenance for the period than stop and start production lines, but of course this was part of your annual leave, whether you wanted to take it then or not.

Most people in retail it was only the Bank Holidays off, 27th to 31st was normal working, New Years Day off and then back to work. For some even Boxing Day was a work day, Boxing Day sales aren’t a new thing, so for them it was only Christmas Day off, but then you had more flexibility over when you took annual leave, which suited me.

The main difference between those days and now, is working Bank Holidays normally meant enhanced pay and time off in lieu. Now with many companies if it falls as part of your shift pattern it’s just another day at work, like many things been given away by a “grateful workforce.”

[commonrail]

I’d sooner have my days off when it doesn’t get dark at half 3.

[robroy]

muckles:

robroy:
In past days it was the only period where I could guarantee to spend a good couple of weeks with my kids, and even now when they have grown up, I still take a couple of weeks off at Christmas,

It never was that everybody in normal non essential jobs got 2 weeks off over Christmas, that was mostly in the manufacturing industry, 2 week shut down suited many companies, far more efficient to shut down and carry out maintenance for the period than stop and start production lines, but of course this was part of your annual leave, whether you wanted to take it then or not.

Most people in retail it was only the Bank Holidays off, 27th to 31st was normal working, New Years Day off and then back to work. For some even Boxing Day was a work day, Boxing Day sales aren’t a new thing, so for them it was only Christmas Day off, but then you had more flexibility over when you took annual leave, which suited me.

The main difference between those days and now, is working Bank Holidays normally meant enhanced pay and time off in lieu. Now with many companies if it falls as part of your shift pattern it’s just another day at work, like many things been given away by a “grateful workforce.”

Ok, Cheers for that mate, but to refer to your first sentence…I never said it was. .
I just said that I personally could guarantee a fortnight off…me.

[wide-load85]

I finished fri 20th and am back 6th jan. I’d much rather have a week off and have an extra week off in summer when we’re quiet anyway.

[whisperingsmith]

I know it’s not so relevant to now, but two of us pulled into the car park of the International Hotel in Tabriz to treat ourselves to a Xmas Eve meal.

Whilst the Iranians didn’t particularly celebrate Xmas in 1978 - once we had sat down in the restaurant a waiter appeared & with a big beaming smile said something like “it’s you boy’s Xmas leave it to us”

We were treated like Kings - amazing Persian Food, beers a & wine and at the end given a bill for 1 Beer - I still have the Bill to this day as a memento

Also have had Xmas in Beirut picking up a backload & one in Jeddah on the Airport construction site - Free Bar & a Saudi Rock Band (not often you get a free bar in Saudi)

Having had Baptist Parents and gone to sea as soon as I could at 17 - never had a Xmas at home until well into my 30s.

Just left my local pub (early) as what is normally a great place - totally 4qed by the once a year drinkers