'We won't be paid, [so] my answer was no': Daycare worker refuses to work overtime for the school's Christmas party, gets criticized for lacking 'Team Spirit'

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Jesse Kessenheimer • Writer and Editor
Dec 7, 2023 12:00 PM EST

During the holidays, it's almost inevitable that someone at the dinner table will ask you for free services related to your career. If you're a lawyer, you'll likely be asked for legal advice over the Christmas ham. If you're a doctor, your distant cousins might ask you if the mole on their neck is benign after a few too many glasses of grog. And if you're a daycare worker, you'll likely be asked to volunteer for free at your school's kiddo Christmas bash.

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  • I'm all about being amicable during the holiday season, but when your own work asks you to do your job without pay, there's no amount of Christmas spirit that'll make that acceptable. When it comes to family and friends pushing the envelope on your free expertise you may let it slide a little, but your employer doesn't have the right to ask you to volunteer for anything…. and I mean ANYTHING. 

  • For u/bryannadz, she found out exactly how far her boss was willing to push her holiday generosity after bullying her into volunteering for some overtime work. However, ‘it’s for the children' just isn't a good enough reason to work OT without pay. Scroll for all the details of this festering holiday festivity.

  • 01
    r/antiwork Posted by u/bryannadz 1 day ago Bullied for not volunteering So I work at a daycare, 9 hours a day, 5 days a week. My boss puts out flyers for a Christmas party for the kids this coming Tuesday. It assures the
    via u/bryannadz
  • 02
    parents that their child's teacher will be in the classroom. But then I'm told in the chat they use to harass us with work announcements at home that it's volunteer and we won't be paid. "Cool" I think, "I'm not going."
    via u/bryannadz
  • 03
    Keep in mind this "kids party" is us standing in our uniform shirts, professional, entertaining the parents every question and their children until each child gets an individual photo with Santa. It's supposed to last only an hour but there's no guarantee and since my class has the oldest kids I would be the last to leave. So
    via u/bryannadz
  • 04
    after 9 hours of work with the kids I would then have to stay my 10 and maybe 11th hour for free and still work the next morning for another 9. So my answer was no. But when my boss got wind of my "lack of team spirit” she was taken aback.
    via u/bryannadz
  • 05
    She messaged the employee chat "some people don't want to go and that she's never had trouble with staff going before" basically shaming anyone who would dare not attend. I was told by my co-worker I would be in trouble from her and that management would remember, I
    via u/bryannadz
  • 06
    started to get snubbed and left out by co-workers, who I guess are standing by management. All because I don't want to volunteer to to my job at a place that can more than afford to pay me for the time.
    via u/bryannadz
  • 07
    Despite criticizing me for my lack of team spirit they have already collected 40 dollars for the owner of the daycares present (yes I was told if I didn't give the owner a gift she would give everyone else a gift who contributed and remember all those who didn't)
    via u/bryannadz
  • 08
    and 18 dollars for the supervisors and 20 dollars for a secret Santa. Also a former employee told me the owner uses the Christmas gift money for her vacation and she got sunglasses the year she worked there. My sister says it's a cult and it's creepy they all think this is okay.
    via u/bryannadz
  • 09
    lolbojack 1 day ago This is disgusting, OP. "Team Spirit" is not working off the clock. and/or being pressured to donate money. Screw that place.
    via u/lolbojack
  • 10
    Baker198t 1 day ago So they are forcing you to work for free, then stealing wages... sweet.. call the labour board..
    via u/Baker198t
  • 11
    sarilysims 1 day ago Bingo. Employees are not allowed to volunteer for their employer. It is wage theft. OP, take screenshots and report this to the Labor Board ASAP.
    via u/sarilysims
  • 12
    chompy283 1 day ago Don't work if you aren't paid. Good for you for standing up. However, one has to learn to be uncomfortable about doing so and glad you showed that strength
    via u/chompy283
  • 13
    I am so SICK of office collections. The BOSS should be buying the employees gifts. It's gotten really stupid where the workers now buy bosses gifts. Really silly. Nobody should ever be putting in more than $5 for anything but I am tired of all the fake work "chumminess". We are NOT a "family". We are not a "team".
    via u/chompy283
  • 14
    chompy283 1 day ago However, there is a certain amount of baloney and fakeness one must endure at any job. Sometimes i say 'Yay team" when i know it's And sometimes easier to toss in a small amount than deal with the drama as well. You have to decide what works for you. But, definitely you should NOT work unpaid.
    via u/chompy283
  • 15
    Wildtalents333 · 17 hr. ago I am glad I never had a job where we had to buy the boss a gift.
    via u/Wildtalents333
  • 16
    No-Section-1056 - 1 day ago Wage theft, and under threat/coerced to boot. Labor board would like to know.
    via u/No-section-1056
  • 17
    Afraid Claim_363 - 1 day ago Former daycare teacher here - that's not how it works, if the boss wants the kids to have a staff run Christmas party she's gotta pay you. Not cool!
    via u/Afraid_Claim_363
  • 18
    Moebius80 1 day ago . I would find another daycare to work at and quit without notice the day of the party.
    via u/Moebius80
  • 19
    anonymousforever 1 day ago Keep track of everything they demand you "volunteer" for that should be paid because it wasn't truly optional. The trick is to get them to imply that not being there isn't a choice in writing, email, or text, then when you want to move on....file a wage claim for unpaid wages for xyz dates, times that should have been paid as they were not optional to attend, etc.
    via u/anonymousforever
  • 20
    Get the labor board involved, and get the place's policies reviewed...nothing like a little justice because they won't read the rules they should know as a business owner.
    via u/anonymousforever
  • 21
    davev9365720263 1 day ago "Voluntary but you will be harassed if you don't" working off the books, demanding payments/gifts, harassment... This sounds like a trip to a labor lawyer is in order.
    via u/davev9365720263
  • 22
    "I don't want to volunteer to do my job"
    via u/canva

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christmas daycare boss worker employee manager work coworkers working employees daycare worker supervisor workplace overtime Holiday party coworker holidays free
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