AIBU to have expected at least ONE day off over christmas and new year. I OBVIOUSLY don't have a FUCKING family life!!!.

[USoRight]

I am working Christmas day, Boxing day, New years Eve and New years day and the day after (Sunday). I have 27th and 28th off (big bloody deal). I work for the fucking NHS. I hate the BASTARDS.
Last year I had boxing day off.

My husband ordered a turkey who is still running around and called cyril.

I have worked the whole lot many many times, what is your actual shift though?

I don't mind an early shift Xmas day, kids up v early anyway so see them opening presents, off to work then home bout 3pm for Xmas dinner.

Not sure as the friend I offered to do the 27th for was reading just the days out over the phone, probably be a mixture - some starting at 14.30. Suppose I could stagger in after stuffing myself full of cyril instead of flopping in front of the TV. Have to go easy on the booze tho!! I'm not bothered any more now (G&T I think) Have a week off in January as annual leave, will have christmas then!

Was so looking forward to the little prince opening his fisher price zoom and whatever racing track thingy watsit.

We are not getting half of our fees (NMC) refunded from now on?!

OP, really feel for you. I have struck lucky this Christmas (we have a lovely Team Leader who tries to be fair) My only complaint is that there is one colleague who would just ring in sick if she didn't get her requests so she gets fantastic off duty over the festive period

Anyway, I finish at 5pm on the 24th and have 4 days off.

There was a thread recently someone upset about having to work until 4 on the 24th; all the health care staff were and couldn't see her point. :)

That is crap. When I had to work on call and weekends at least I was usually either working xmas OR new year. To make you work all 4 of the big days sounds very unfair.

I can't see the issue here. Forget that it's Xmas week for a minute- what would you be working if it wasn't the holiday period? If you are being forced to work extra, or on days you wouldn't normally then you have a good case to moan about. If, like me, your normal rota'd shifts fall on those days then it's tough luck.

I like working for the nhs, great support, access to loads of resources- free counselling, free holiday vaccinations, free physiotherapy, free advice on legal matters and financial guidance, good pension, lots of annual leave and family friendly working values. I choose a job that is 24 and shift based so I expect to work holidays when they are days on which my rota lands. There are so many prople out of work we are lucky to hav jobs at all...

I disagree Starbuck. If someone is working all 4 of the main days, it is more than likely that others are not working any. ime (and I have worked for the NHS for 19 years) it makes for a better working environment if consideration is given to all at Christmas. (not just families with dcs, but everyone).

You can still have access to all the things you mention, and feel lucky to have a job and still have one or two of the bank holidays/weekends off. imo

Starbuck - the NHS you work for isnt the one I do. I pay for the RCN and NMC so those things arent exactly free. My employer said the rota was suspended for 2 weeks so that it would be fair on everyone.

How can you forget its the xmas week. It IS the xmas week (the clue is in the name, plus all those twinkly lights) and most people will get some of it off. I work every weekend anyway because thats when its busy and I can fit work around my family. I work all year at the busiest time for them and theyve shat on me good and proper!

I think they want us all to leave anyway and be unemployed (note to self..look into redundancy payments) not get rid of me so easy!

If a real person does your off duty and has to look you in the eye everyone would get fair holidays. Because its a faceless computer and management staff who's only form of communication are endless emails they can treat you like dirt.

Do you have a flexible working contract that states that you only work weekends ?

Ok, well perhaps I'm in the minority but where I work (LAS) they don't change your shift patterns just because it's Xmas, New Yr, Hannuka or any other holiday during the year. The rota is the bible and to change it would cause HUGE upheaval. We have annual leave or swapping shifts if you really need the time off.

This year my watch are working Xmas and New Yr and next year we are doing New Yr, some watches are not working at all this year and only New Yr next year, but it's just the way the rotas work out... but nobody complains about it. It's crap working holidays but when you work for a 24 hr service it's just part of the job.

But "forget it's Xmas week" I meant how would your working days fall if it were just any other week. I wasn't aware all rotas are changed within various NHS organisations in oder to give "fair Christmas days off".

The OP is also only P/T so it seems excessive because of that too.

I wouldn't mind working for the shitty NHS. Long holidays decent pay grades.

Try wokring in private companies and then you'll know the meaning of the word shitty

A1980 erm. Long holidays and decent pay grades? which NHS are you talking about because it's not the one I sank 12 years into.

Yes working for something like the NHS (or police or fire services) you expect to work your share of public holidays. But not all of them, and even in my 72h shifts-from-hell times (junior doc before they changed the working pattern - and before overtime pay!) I always worked either Christmas or New Year. Only one year did I work both - and that's when I wrote the roster, had 4 people on it including me - and one person managed to book leave from the middle of Dec to the second week of Jan and I didn't think it was fair to put one of the others in to cover her shifts so I worked them.

Not all private companies are like that. I know plenty of people with fab conditions, holidays, pay. You cannot generalise like that.

I think the issue here is: If you work to a flexible working contract ie work set days throughout the year and have a contract that states this for example Fri,Sat,Sun then YABU to want change your shifts just because its Christmas.

If you dont have a set contract then YANBU reasonable to want either Christmas or New Year off.

Have worked many Christmases and New Years but then also had them off if my set days dont fall on them. Also have not known contracts to be suspended over the Christmas period either as they are usually for childcare reasons

Why does someone always have to bring up public v's private sector with the argument of having long holidays and great pay? It is such crap and a massive, ill informed generalisation. Sorry you got shafted OP.

My contracts states that I work every weekend, EXCEPT over important holidays, when it is suspended to allow a degree of fairness. Otherwise I think I would also work Easter ? Another weekend holiday.

NHS Direct is going eventually and becoming part of 111. I think it will be treated as a business with contract bidding, so they want rid of expensive, experienced nurses in the numbers currently existing. We're in a position now of shut up or leave and I know loads who are doing the latter.

I only wanted one day off.

Annual leave was also suspended for everyone.

Well I think it sounds awful and unfair. You have my sympathy.

Just thought I would add to this that if you work for the NHS the bank holiday's fall on the Monday and Tuesday so if your off the Sat and Sun (Christmas day and boxing day) and working the Mon/Tue you get paid the BH lol, happy day's it works in my favour this year

fin You can have a for rubbing my nose in it!

Seriously.... have a lovely Christmas you and everyone else. x x x

I've decided I'm better off than a lot of people who are out of work this Christmas so it really doesnt matter that much. My family are all well and happy.

x x x

Apart from Cyril !!!

Same here no annual leave from dec 20th til end of Jan, but this is bacause we are moving into a new hospital, and effectively have to run 2 units with our staff.

but still shitty

Sorry USoRight, I just couldn't resist adding that post about BH, but I do know exactly how you feel as I have worked for the NHS for the last twenty years and I think this is the first time I have been off Christmas eve and Christmas day other than I have been sick.