Christmas time off

I do think that people who don't have childcare responsibilities should do the decent thing and volunteer to work over Christmas.

For how long? Some people never have children. Should they work every single one of their working lives, in service to their colleagues?

I don’t think it’s ridiculous. I covered Christmas for decades once mine had grown up.

Of course you shouldn't have to work. I wouldn't be asking. No need to be rude or defensive about it, but in front of mamagement, a simple, matter of fact " I think that Christmas cover might need to be determined as I obviously I won't be available this year having taken my turn last year".

Why?

A colleague’s childcare is no concern of the OP’s.

Why should they? People who don’t have children are just as entitled to enjoy time off over Christmas as those without them. Ridiculous attitude.

Should I've added, I've always been fortunate enough to work with fair minded people. I think you need to raise this with your manager - a hands off approach is all well and good when people are reasonable, but when they're not, it needs to be broached.

Did you not see the other thread from the parent who can't find childcare and is being asked to work over Christmas?

I do think that people who don't have childcare responsibilities should do the decent thing and volunteer to work over Christmas.

Absolutely discuss with manager. It is not fair. Either alternate years or equal split of days. They may even agree only 1 person needed in, or can log on from home to check for anything urgent.

That's really horrible of them. Christmas is a special time for most people - having kids doesn't trump anyone else's right to time off.

I've always alternated years with colleagues unless it was the case that someone volunteered to work and save their holiday for next year.

It's really shitty management to expect employees to fight it out between themselves. Your manager needs to do some actual management, that's what they get paid more for.

And yes, child free colleagues are also entitled to want time off at Christmas.

Noway. You don't need to make up lies and excuses in order to be awarded basic fairness.

Definitely raise it and definitely sort out a rota system. It's not fair to get priority because of children and I say this with 2 young children!
I generally work either Christmas week or the week in between to help my team out. It is a juggle with no childcare but no way would I say to a colleague that I should get priority!

Wrong thread 😆

Absolutely not unreasonable. I’m a parent myself but I would still consider your time as valuable as mine.

Well that’s embarrassing.

The OP’s post is perfectly clear. Her workplace is closed on the bank holidays, it’s who should work the days around those that is in question. The OP worked those days last year so it’s only fair she should get them off this year.

Completely agree with you.

Management should have taken the initiative of making it clear there is a yearly rota for Christmas where everyone will be expected to cover the Christmas period one year and then be off the following year.

No exception.

Anything else is discriminating against child free and single people.

If your manager is too weak then refer the issue to HR.

I’m my team, those of us with children tend to live with partners and/or close to extended family whereas my child-free colleagues live alone and quite far from family. If Christmas leave was reserved for people with children, my child-free colleagues would be alone at Christmas every year. For me, as much as I hate to work over the Christmas period, I’d at least come home to my family every evening.

All of us want time off to be with our loved ones, that feeling isn’t reserved for those of us with young children.

You could always say that you worked it last year so you won't be working it this year.
And just keep saying that. If the managers don't want to be involved make sure the two women know that you won't be coming into work. Don't ask them..tell them

When some fluffbag mentions that those with kids should take priority and get it off because they have kids, tell them you identify as a family member.

You have family, you have siblings, parents, friends etc. their crotch fruit don't trump your (elderly, infirm, nearly dead?) relatives who's last Christmas on this earth could be this very year! After all, tomorrow isn't promised. My facebook is filled with people saying RIP to someone or other.

You're absolutely right it should be more fair and a good place to start is a rota. Last year in? This year off.

Raise it. Otherwise you end up like me, when I worked 7 of them on the trot because the parents in the team got comfortable with having favours done and would threaten HR if they got a sniff of being rota'd on.

I finally put my foot down and it caused an unholy row (involving HR) but I got it off. It's only fair, as you say, and you're not responsible for your colleagues' children.

Your manager needs to manage.

If you worked last year you should get first choice of days off.

They are going to ruin the goodwill that was there by using the child card. Just because you are child free, it does not mean you do not have family.

When they took the job, they must have been aware they would have to cover Christmas occasionally.

Definitely raise it with your manager. Otherwise, it will be the same next year.

Exactly.

Equality Act protected characteristic.

I worked with a woman who was told she couldn’t have Christmas off because Christmas is for kids and her kids were grown and she had a meeting with her manager about it because she said it’s discrimination because she’s Christian and she didn’t work any Christmas after that.