Was I unreasonable to say no?

Another one has gone to our manager and demanded that he make me work it and give them my days off. He asked me to consider taking some of their shifts and I said if he asks me again I will quit.

I know there's a lot going on today, but am I the only person who read this and thought "constructive dismissal" ?

They are completely selfish CFs so you must stick to your guns on this one!

Read the room! Why on earth is it her responsibility to tell people she won’t be doing that is in any event entirely optional

Wow I’m so happy for you op especially standing up to your manager.
I do think the management plays into this…no one should have every holiday or even the exact same vacation every year in a workplace that works holidays.
I had a colleague married to a minister…wanted every Xmas eve and Xmas day off to attend “his” religious services. No..he’s always going to be a minister plan accordingly.

Another was 63 y.o woman with grown children no grands didn’t put up a tree or exchange gifts or eat at home but rather a restaurant. Every year she freely spoke about no tree no gifts no cooking no hosting and yet requested Every Xmas week off for years as she was the most senior employee.

I changed all that when I started managing everyones paid time off.

of course they are mad at themselves because they took you for granted. This is the way forward no more taking the heavy load as they have shown how very little appreciation they have for you working holidays

But definitely not before Christmas

yes interactions like this don’t get really just come out of the blue

there’s a history

This really pisses me off. There’s selfish twats. Just keep saying no OP.

It's really hard because at Christmas there is no childcare open so those with children, especially single parents might struggle. BUT they have plenty of notice to make arrangements and find cover so it's only fair that you take this time off. We arrange holiday in April so plenty of time to find cover.

Loving this response😁

It's demeaning and downright heartless that they expect you to do it.

What a shower of bitches!!
Honestly you have done 5 years. I would be reminding them of that! Tell them if they keep going you will be covering no one in future Christmas holidays. People are an absolute joke.

Its fine
But would have been better to mention to people that your not covering this year.

Not when you're on the receiving end of emotional blackmail because you don't have children - especially from those who do. It's absolutely rubbing salt in the wound.

Everyone is entitled to want some time off over Christmas, whether they have children or not! Don't let them make you feel guilty. You shouldn't need to, but reiterate that you have worked christmas for the last 5 years, you are having a break this year, you have plans.

Think how much money you can save now. No contributions to birthdays /weddings /Christmas cards. Bunch of tossers the lot of them...
Don't be afraid to make official complaints.. Bullying it is. Outright bullying..

Tell them their entitlement and guilt trips and frostiness at work has now ensured you won't be doing them any more favours going forward because they never appreciated the last 5 years worth of favours ! CFs the lot of them ! Why does their time off trump yours just because they have kids ?!? You still deserve a Christmas 🎄 and yes you should absolutely stick to it and make sure your manager sorts this too the prick ! I'm sorry they are treating you this way ❣️

Horrible people. I’d be looking for another job.

A friend of mine was asked to swap her Christmas Day off with someone as she didn’t have dc.
She replied ‘ I have parents and I’m their only dc so no I won’t be swapping .’

This.

I would say to everyone that I’m taking my first Christmas off in 5 years and if I hear anyone bitching about it I will never cover a Christmas shift for them again.

Of course YANBU.

My adult sister does not have kids and I would be gutted if she could never join our sibling family group Christmases just because of that!

You have as much right as anyone with kids to take your Christmas leave!! Don't be guilt tripped you've done nothing wrong

This is just horrendous. I work for the NHS and on my ward it's work Xmas one year, NY the next. Fair for everyone. Some people (including me at times) might request to work both, or do bank over that time, but overall you work one and not the other. I do feel for our regular domestic staff though, who work Monday - Friday, or over the weekend (seems to be one contract or another) and aren't allowed to take any time off at Xmas or NY, so unless it falls on a weekend (or in the week, if it's weekend staff), they just have to suck it up. That said, I have heard people advising others "just tell them you have children and so you should have the time off". Err...why? I don't have children but I do have a family! I remember in my previous workplace (not NHS) one of my colleagues stating that she and other people with children should be given priority when requesting leave in the summer. And at the same workplace, the senior manager actually said to her junior (so, my direct line manager) with regards to Xmas "Make sure you give priority to those with families"! My line manager's response was "We've ALL got families...!" Correct! Your wish to have time off at Xmas is NOT trumped by theirs, and they are selfish arses for making a big deal of it, and making you feel like shit!

Generally speaking…. Relations between you and these colleagues are in the gutter, yes?

Stick to your guns.

As you can see, they don’t recognize and appreciate the generosity you have shown, but instead consider it something owed to them.

The reason why you don’t have children is irrelevant.