To think that you shouldn't be pissed off to work Xmas day just because you have children?

[kitya]

When your kids are 15 and over and you are in a job where unsociable hours are enough. I'm fuming that someone complained today that she was the only one with kids that was working Xmas. As if us singles don't have families we would love to be with. I'm so annoyed, she's a friend as well.

Gosh I'm glad I don't work for you signet
is that not discriminating against your staff that don't have Children??
People with grown up children who insist on having day off are not team players??! Utter bollocks!!

Well it works fine for us, generally find those with VERY small babies/toddlers will work the afternoons which is when people without young children want to be off to do dinners for parents or such.

If you work Xmas day you get new years off, so still plenty of time.

Its never really been an issue in our place of work, except when parents EXPECT it, like Ive said, they get priority to xmas day. My main issue is with parents who want xmas day off to be with their children.... and then new year off because its "their time!" ER nope!

I think signet should be hoping she's not recognisable on here TBH

I'm glad I don't work for you as well signet. Make sure you never put that sentance down in writing anywhere in your workplace. You could find yourself the subject of a justifiable grievance at your arbitrary determination of what does and doesn't make a 'good team player'.

The bottom line is that when you sign up for a career in the caring profession be it a doctor, nurse, midwife or paramedic. Not forgetting the cleaners, clerks, mortuary staff or lab staff you just know what the hours entail. No one has a god given right to have Christmas off. I wanted to say, you dont sign a contract stating that you wont work Christmas but, a gp earlier said she did just that. Ive never heard of it. Its all about give and take. And, lets not get onto the people in the armed forces

No because like I already stated they get to pick 3 out of the 5 days they would like to work only comes down to people getting picked against their will if we dont have enough people, I have a good team and they work it out themselves fine.

Most of the staff have either young children, or have older children and remember what it was like on christmas morning and therefore will work in return to get which ever other day off they want ie boxing day or new year.

Yes, If I didnt have children, and I knew me having Christmas day off meant that someone with a 4 year old and a 6 year old would miss out on Christmas morning then, yes I would feel bad.

I really dont see what the fuss is about. If you have an issue with working christmas day regardless of your family arrangements then get an office job 9-5 Mon - Fri! People (in my case adults with disabilities) pay my wages 365 days a year, cant really tell them to bog off at Christmas cos my job doesnt suit me!!!

Agree grumplestiltskin
perhaps the childless should be done with it and work it all, eh!?

Well I guess its each to their own.

I dont have children, Ive worked every Christmas since I was 16, this will be my first Christmas off not really sure what to do with it yet!
I dont think you can really cater for every single idea of family arrangements.

The way we do it works for us and our staff, and as they are a good team (for their benefits - not mine) they help each other out and it all works out nicely.

I used to work unsociable hours. Every time I was scheduled to work Christmas I always managed to swap and I worked New Year's Eve or New Year's Day. You had to work one or the other. I always had a list of people desperate for a swap. Mind you I live in Scotland where New Year is more of a big deal.

Its just not fair to give blatant priority to those with children though!! We are all someones daughter, aunt, partner. I dont get how the line is so clearly drawn.

Signet - I think you have a nice fair system - and a loving working environment.

"I dont think you can really cater for every single idea of family arrangements."

well exactly, so give priority to one broad group?
you make a lot of assumptions - as a parent I would rather miss a PART of christmas than have a child less colleague leave their elderly parent alone for their last christmas

Signet I will work for you! Some people on here have lost their minds....
Some people are so selfish.Surely priority should be given to those with young children.I am shocked anyone finds that wrong!Christmas for adults can be celebrated any day over the festive period. Christmas day is for young children,waking up early,has santa been,excitement,rushing downstairs early etc.If I still had little ones,I would work any day of the year,but NEVER christmas day.

signet, your private opinion is one thing, if you're a manager with the view that somebody wouldn't be a good team player for not working to 'save' somebody with young children then that's completely out of order.

Are you actually 'in charge' or just using the royal 'my staff', 'our staff' as people do sometimes?

Children are a priority at Christmas - as simple as that.

I dont think its about that kitya

If we have jobs where people need us, then thats the jobs we have.

Those jobs still need doing Xmas day. Its not blatant priority as if you dont put your name down (in my workplace) then its assumed you dont want to work it and if we dont need you to we wont put you in. But if it came down to me doing an 8-1 being childless and a colleague having 2 children then they would get the priority.

If it really is so much of a problem to you, then you need to bring it up with your employer. All of my staff pretty much work it out for themselves and in 8 years I dont think I can remember an issue.

The problem with saying 'well it works for us and our staff' is that it ignores the fact that your workplace is part of a wider world. It reminds me of my SIL who as a new young teacher worked in a tiny village school where the rest of the staff were older well heeled women. The first time SIL went on a training course, the headteacher told her 'oh by the way, we never bother claiming travel expenses here, its just taking money unecessarily out of a tight budget. My SIL felt pressured into buying into this way of doing things even though she was living in penury at that stage of life

Sometimes its important to see the wider picture

YABU Christmas is for children and parents want to be with their children and vice versa.

Signet what about people with an ill or disabled partner.

2old2care people often live miles and miles from their parents these days, or even over seas so it is NOT true that the adults can celebrate over the festive period, you cannot travel abroad between christmas morning and boxing day afternoon if that is the period of christmas you have off due to working lates on CE and BD, you can however go home to your children and have a fantastic time with the periods you have off

2old2care... Who are you to call anybody selfish? When your children were young, would you have liked to be 'trumped' by somebody with younger children, so more entitled than yours? What if you were required to work Christmas Day because it was your turn and to not do so would mean another parent with young children has to work?

Attitudes like yours are inconsiderate and yes, selfish.

Christmas for chilren falls on different days in different countries. Austria celebrates on Chrstmas Eve did you know?

In this case, youngest 15 oldest 22 the shift is the night before. Come home, in bed by 9am. Surely simple instruction yes, there is a husband on how to peel the veg and put the turkey in the oven wil make for a lovely Christmas day. Wake up at midday, jump in shower come downstairs in time for a lovely cold glass of champagne and the smell of dinner cooking. Whats to complain about?

Sorry I should be clearer on that.

It is my private view. I am a manager, however I have worked my way up from the bottom so I do have a backlog of experience.

For example

IF I was off shift on christmas and one of the team where rota'd in xmas morning and they didnt want to do it, I would offer to do it because in my own opinion I would feel really shit to think she was missing out on seeing her kids open their presents when really I can do my thing at any time of the day.

I also know that within the team that I now manage they all have good relationships and it would be seen as a bit selfish (BY THEM NOT ME) if one of them wouldnt cover for one of those with small children.

2old2care you think those of us with kids who DO work christmas because we work places where we are needed 365 and don't expect instant priority over others are selfish???? this makes no sense, you are aiming this at those of us that do NOT have a sense of entitlement over our colleagues

wow your team sounds lovely if they go around calling people selfish for not falling into line with the way things is done round ere and as been for years