Was I unreasonable to say no?

I have children, a 10 year old and a baby.

You are entitled to a long Christmas break just like those with children. Your life isn't worth less because you don't have kids. Your colleagues behaviour is disgusting.

Enjoy your Christmas break. You've earned it after all.

If I were you, I would say to your colleagues that you will be taking Christmas off this year as it’s your turn. In the meantime, start looking for a new job with a start date of 2nd January!

As someone else without children…. Your life, annual leave, home life etc is not less valuable than those with children.

I do agree though that the reason for you not having children is not relevant. I say that because my reason isn’t the same as yours, and I believe the above applies equally to me.

Your manager should absolutely have been monitoring who worked at Christmas. That way when your colleagues complained, the manager would be able to say, 'It's TheFourth's turn this year.'

I personally would question the attitude of anyone working in outreach who had not worked out that it might involve working some unsocial hours.

Yes in the NHS they do.
A lot of the management are useless.
Our Christmas rotation is out.
Already got people with kids who are working moaning about it.

If you take a job that involves Christmas shifts then you have to suck it up.

And they should be grateful you've stood aside the last 5 years, not bitch about how you're actually going to have some time off this year

Stick to your guns

Which have you experienced?

if a sheltered life means none of them…. Hell yes! And I’m bloody happy about that 😆

As someone with children i think they are being ridiculous.

Dont let them change your mind. You deserve to have time off just as much as they do .

Don't quit whatever you do. Just take the time off when it comes. Don't give them the satisfaction of you leaving.

A pp asked why the OP felt the need to state that she wasn't childless through choice. I obviously can't answer for her, but the question struck a chord with me, since I made the same point about myself.

Even nowadays, people can be quite judgemental when you don't have children. There is sometimes an assumption that you're selfish and then you get people pulling "Who will you expect to wipe your backside for you when you're in the nursing home? Oh, yes...our children!"

No, I've not seen that on this thread but I have seen it elsewhere.

I've also seen people saying "But it's such a precious time when people have young children, and they won't have that again." It's the same for anyone fortunate enough still to have their own parent[s] or spouse though, isn't it? Your time with them is limited and you never know when it'll come to an end.

I live a fairly sheltered life but even I have experienced as least one of the incidents on your list. Don’t you get out much?

Tell them to get stuffed (I say this as a mum of kids who likes Xmas off). They’re entitled dick heads. Children don’t give them the right to this .

As I say… for any goddam reason. And with any personal circumstances whatsoever. Wants / doesn’t want / bloody despises children - none of it is relevant

the op would be entitled to Christmas and new year off.

When will parents realise that having children is a lifestyle choice and they should not be entitled to special treatment?

Tell them to piss off. You've done your fair share.

Most of us got the point you were making. I would add that a person who didn’t have children because they didn’t want them is also entitled to those particular leave days.

Slightly curious why you stipulate that you don't have children but not because you didn't want them. Do you think you would be less entitled to the days if you were childless/free by choice?

In any case I would tell them to stop asking repeatedly, that they were becoming boring and I would not resign if the manager mentioned it again - leave when you are good and ready. They all sound like arseholes!

I've often called colleagues out on this - just because you (as did I) chose to have children doesn't mean that you get priority. Childcare is your responsibility.

@Thefourth YANBU to say No, OP, and good for you for sticking to it and making it clear to your manager the consequences for the business if he continues to pressurise you into changing your mind which, let's face it, is just to make his life easier. I'm not surprised you're looking for another job - who would want to work with entitled CFs like your colleagues who have six months to put childcare arrangements in place which are their responsibility, not yours!
I hope you have a fab Christmas break OP! 😃

Wrong thread!

Don't you dare give in to these selfish gits. If you do I will come round to your house and clobber you with a smoked kipper! (or some sort of tofu if you're veggie)

This is your time off, your turn. You have done more than enough in the past.

I have worked many Christmas/New year/Bank holidays whilst having children - it's simply part of the job. It sucks but that's life.

I really hate people that pressure others like this.

Absolutely do not be guilted! We used to have a colleague that had to travel from the NW to Bournemouth to get back to her family for Xmas, and my colleagues with kids would often begrudge her having Xmas Eve off (to travel) back home. She had no family or friends up here, it used to drive me insane when they’d pipe up saying it wasn’t fair the had to work Xmas Eve and had kids.

You can see both sides??? So are you suggesting the OP’s colleagues are being reasonable?

YANBU!!!

Why?

not like it’s short notice
they know now and have more than ample time to make plans accordingly