Christmas leave priority

Totally agree.

Well let them, I bet they don’t. Even OP isn’t and she seems totally bitter about the whole affair.

That’s where we’ll have to agree to differ as I don’t think they should have the same chance at it, for reasons I’ve already said.

The main one being: the policy is in practice about the children. They were children once. They will have already benefitted from it then.

I disagree that they could never take time off together, but I don't think they should take priority over parents, no.

I am late to the conversation but OP I do think you are coming across as a bit mean.
Parents have children because they want to but they are also doing a service to the rest of the country, including you, by bringing up the next generation. Yes they should get priority at Christmas. Of course we need the next generation. They are the people who will be doing all the jobs in the country when you OP and your contemporaries are retired.
It is much easier for adults to date shift Christmas rather than children. There is a build up to Christmas at schools, Santa tracking etc.
The Christmas holidays are a really difficult time to find childcare with no holiday clubs.
As a grandmother, I do think it is a bit bonkers that grandparents are prioritised for leave. I would put all parents of school,age children first.
Years ago, my next door neighbours’s son worked in the army. The people with children got leave priority at Christmas and the others got priority at New Year.

Why isn’t it fair? If she doesn’t need the time off as much as others, then she shouldn’t get it off as much as others.

Being “unfair” would be for her to have it off as much as others.

Note: I’ve no skin in the game, my employer (industry) closes over Christmas. So I’m arguing from
a point of principle rather than personal benefit or loss.

I also think the principle applies more widely than parents and at Christmas.

So you yourself have never worked xmas 😂
You csn tell!

I play a musical instrument as a hobby. It is my whole life outside of work I love it.

There is an annual course, that brings together people all iver the globe for a week of tutoring, masterclasses, ensembles, etc

It is held in the school holidays for two reasons;

1. They use a boarding school facilities - only way with the need for onsite classrooms, accomodation, pianos, auditorium etc
2. they run a kids version of the course along side it.

I do not have children. I will never have children.

Is it fair that I should never get to attend this course as my annual leave main summer holiday? ETA - Not demanding every year, of course because give and take.

Answer that question yes or no.

The members of society, who must make sure to sacrifice for other's children. You know as the society needs them..
As that means everyone has essentially responsibility for every child I take it they can tell the kids off in public places when misbehaving?

I think that's quite fair at the end of the day, consider everyone is apparently in it together. If society should parent together, at least lets do it properly.

Well your error there is the "when you do have kids" part. There's no guaranteed "when". Some people don't want kids and others do want them but can't have them.

Also, the same people who don't benefit from the policy at the time they might have had young children then don't benefit again when their contempories are becoming grandparents.

How the policy works in practice will depend on the number of parents and grandparents in that specific organisation of course, but it's quite conceivable that the people in Position 5 will never get to take Christmas off if it's adhered to.

Well I’d expect the manager to tell them they’re working and to give Sandra the time off alongside some additional companionate leave. That’s exactly what I’d do for those that work for me.

This policy was written by a new grandma!

Totally unreasonable. I’d prioritise single parents but otherwise you should take turns. I have elderly parents whose Christmas might be their last-why should a grandma with a child over 7 get priority over me?

It’s difficult to get childcare over holidays. It’s also difficult to get carers.

Fair or not

This Christmas is over a weekend so you get the Monday off

Jump in car as soon as you get out if the office 5pm Christmas Eve and do the drive then

the roads will be quiet

you will be there by 10pm having a drink with parents

get Christmas Day
Boxing Day buffet and long walk
27th to mull around
come back leisurely on 28th

you could go and have a festive weekend

apply for days off regardless you never know - bring up the Christmas holidays and the fact you are a daughter with HR, in a nice way, be nice to people it’s how you easily come to a compromise

you never know there might be parents who split Christmas and want to work the days after because their child is off to the other parent

ask around
talk to people

not even all parents with children spend all of the festive time with them

Why is it a "need" to be with children at Christmas every year?

Why is it not a "need" to be with adult family at Christmas?

I don't think it is in any way fair that a person without children only gets priority once a parent is ill. Why have they not had some years of good Christmases with well parents to enjoy?

Well exactly my mum died in january 2025
She was very ill over xmas 2024 it was hardly a joyous occasion.

This is so selfish. And you are joking about people with children suddenly being less entitled when their children get to a certain age. Not all of them, but the sort of people who think this sort of policy is ok continue to be demanding “because of the children “ ime.

Please quote the case law if there's a case in last 20 years.

I haven't said it's unlawful, Ive said there are huge risks with it. The evidence is simple - 9 protected characteristics in the Equality Act.

If age is one of them, and a 20 year old is less likely to have children and grandchildren than an older person, how is that not a policy that COULD be argued to be discriminatory by a younger person indirectly.

Likewise sexual orientation is a PC and gay people are less likely to have children, a quick Google will tell you that.

If you cant see that there are potential risks linked with the PCs I don't know what else to tell you.

You seem adamant that it's not unlawful, plenty of ppl on this thread have pointed out the risks, you don't need to agree but a read of the EA may help.

For most adults, it's not that insane a suggestion. I'll be doing similar and have done plenty of times. You have a lie in xmas morning and all is good.

I don’t understand what the issue is with Christmas as you have it off. You’ve stayed that Christmas leave is Christmas Day to 28th. But then in another post said it was the week before and after.

most people don’t get Christmas Eve off as it’s a normal working day.

you need to take it up with your employer and stop bashing parents. Or get another job that allows a fairer system. I agree it’s a crazy system and I would be annoyed too - but it’s not the parents fault.

I think she thinks she’s the only one who works and has to juggle seeing family. For many years we’ve done things like this as we’ve not had the same days off. Currently we tag team with our AL to cover holidays so we don’t get much time actually together. It’s just how it works.

it’s not the fault of other parents.

Because, to quote you, you knew the leave conditions when you took the job…

You really aren't a HR professional of 20 years 🤣🤣 if you are that's extremely worrying that you can't see that the Christmas leave policy from the OP would have the POTENTIAL to have claims brought.

As I've said repeatedly why would anyone take the risk

Obviously there won't be a single ET showing a successful claim in this scenario cause it would have been settled way before it got to see the inside a Tribunal given the obvious risks.

Given your lengthy career please tell me how you would legally defend a claim from a young person saying "that policy is unfair, I am 22 therefore this is indirect age discrimination as I am far less likely to be a parent than an older person and extremely far less likely to be a grandparent ".

Maybe I'm missing something but with 20 years working in HR myself I'm very willing to learn if you can tell me what the business response to that would be. I just can't see it so it wouldn't be a procedure I would encourage where I work but happy to learn.