To think that people without children should not take leave in the school holidays

[JazzyPants]

I work in a place where we have to negotiate who has what weeks off, in order that we can still do our jobs properly. I've noticed that people who don't have children of school age are asking for 2 weeks off in the school holidays. I don't think this is really very fair and these people should take their leave outside the main school holidays, so that those of us who have children can take the time with them.

Am I Being Unreasonable about this?

my friends work in schools and we go away together. They are only off in school holidays.
you are being vv unreasonable

We have always avoided taking our holidays during school holidays. Costs less, usually good weather and no school kids. This year will be the last that we can do it.

YABU in the statement in your original post, and I feel your pain. When I was childless it was always me who was given the most crap holiday allocation and when a crisis at work arose (frequently) was expected to work late and all weekend without overtime pay, because the others had children to get home to. . Whilst I recognised the other staff's responsibilities I felt very angry that I had to do far more work that them without the overtime pay. When I asked the boss (a working mum) about it once I was told I was being selfish and didn't understand the stress working mothers were under. I retorted that just because I hadn't been lucky enough to have children (I had them very late) didn't mean I didn't have the right to a life outside work. she was very angry with me and I never dared challenge it again.

Now, as a mum, I feel so gulity when I need time off work with my children, as I know it really adds to my colleague's workload without any time off in lieu or overtime.

YABU
people without children might be aunties and uncles who want to spend time with wider family and nieces and nephews
Even if not, why should they go away out of season when half the attractions are closed?
I used to go interrailing in summer pre kids, not at all as much fun when the hostels are empty in the off season!

and I always took christmas off, which I'm very glad I did as one of my parents died in my early 20s and I'ld taken off work every christmas up till then to travel to be with them!
Now I have kids I'm quite happy to work christmas as I'm not travelling to family, my family is 10 mins from work so whatever bit of christmas I work I still get to spend loads of it at home.
Younger people's "homes" are not necessarily where they live, its often still their parents house so they have to TRAVEL back there or spend the holidays in a lonely empty house share!
Last christmas I offered to work a childless girl's christmas shifts as she only rented a room in the town we work in whereas I have my home 10 mins away, she needed to travel to the other end of the country to be with her disabled mother

YABU I'm afraid - it's not always black and white. Years ago I worked with someone who had a young child and I didn't so I always gave her first refusal for time off in the school hols and it's nice if people can be considerate like that, but not always possible.

My DH has worked term time only for the last 12 years so I had to take time off in the school holds to fit in with him although luckily I wasn't working with anyone with kids at the time.

Tbh, I can't imagine why anyone would choose to take time off in the school holidays if they didn't have to.

I hate reverse AIBU thread, there should be a law about them.

YABU. There are many reasons why they might want their leave in school holidays. It is their choice.

I will take some of my leave in school holidays and some out of school holidays. Most of my friends are teachers and TAs as I used to be a teacher and got on well with people I worked with and trained with. I therefore want to be on holiday occasionly when they are so I can meet up with them.

For some businesses school holdiays might be a quiet period so some people's partners may have to take their leave then.

Some will look after nephews, nieces or children's friends for some of the holidays etc etc etc.

Simple solution is to book yours quicker.

Why are people justifying why they sometimes like to take time off in the school holidays? the reasons are nothing to do with anyone. I always get asked it and get told but your nieces arent your children. We dont have to justify it and, as for saying that you dont understand why anyone would want to go away during school holidays, what the freak has it got to do with anyone why you want to go when the kids are off?

yabu. why should others work out their life around you.

there are plenty of parents who take time off in school holidays when they have term time only working partners who can cover child care, THEY don't deprive themselves of a summer holiday in summer just because others might also like one so why should childless people?

Before children I used to try and work round holidays with other people who had children. But only because I wanted to do that as it was more hassle for them than me. Christmas eve I always took off regardless, as my family were 200 miles away. And the people who had children understood that too. But if someone started showing a sense of entitlement about it, then I wouldn't be helpful at all. I'd just take holidays when I pleased.

Where my mum used to work (in Australia), people with school aged children always got prioritised for holidays, she was never allowed Christmas off or time off for most of the summer holidays. It made it very difficult if my sister who lived in England came home for Christmas as other than Christmas day and Boxing day she could not spend any time with her.

Totally unreasonable
However the price of holidays in school hols means that few people opt for the school hols to take their leave unless they have no choice.

If however holidays were the same price all year round I think this would be much more of a problem for parents.

You are being totally unreasonable

"However the price of holidays in school hols means that few people opt for the school hols to take their leave unless they have no choice."
nah because pre child we went to completely different kinds of places to where we'ld go with kids, family holidays are WAY pricer in school hols but other kinds are not necessarily

As this is a reverse AIBU, I don't know whether to put YABU or YANBU. So I will type it in a really long winded manner instead.

People without children are bonkers to want to go on holiday during school holidays. It is more expensive, busy and the chances are there will be children there!

However, people are perfectly entitled to take AL during months when they expect the weather to be nice as they may not have the money to go away and so might want to have a week off where they can sit in their garden/visit outdoor parks, beaches etc as opposed to taking a week off in November and staying in.

Speaking from experience, I always let people with DC take AL during school holidays when I was working in jobs with this kind of system, as it did not really matter to me when I had holiday and would quite happily take mid July or early September. But if I had had something specific in mind which had to take place in August I wouldn't have hesitated.

See? This is what happens when you do a reverse AIBU! You can't get a short and sweet answer.

Personally, when I get to the stage when I don't have to pay twice the price to holiday in the school holidays I will be delighted. You have to assume that if people are choosing to book their holiday in peak time, there is a valid reason for them doing so. For example, the person/people you are holidaying with have to have school holidays or you are a volunteer helping out on a Scout / Guide camps or similar, or you are meeting up with people due to Christmas, etc., or you are attending something you can't change the date of such as a wedding or a festival

monkeymoma The places you go to might be cheaper as they are non-family friendly, but flights, car hire etc are all much more expensive in August.

wow! is this a wind up?!! Seriously!!! Am speechless.
The sense of entitlement!
I can't have kids. I have a life, the same as those with kids! Perhaps, even more freedom in the summer, as don't have to worry about where to take kids etc. I should have exactly the same rights as those with kids!
Last year, my family from Australia inc v young niece and nephew, came over for a month. I booked two weeks off that summer, most of which was spent looking after the kids! I shouldn't have had that time??! Even though until then, I had never met my two year old nephew?! That two weeks was very special to me.
But if i wanted a totally child free summer, i would still be as 'entitled' as you are! Most of the year, I'm covering those off having kids / bringing up kids/ being off because of their kids.... you say it's not fair re childless taking hols then??!! It's not fair to be infertile either, but hey ho! You are blessed with kids even before getting to the issue of holiday 'entitlement'!

Thats what I meant nightwatch - the holidays away, not the time that people without kids may want days off/ a week off etc to just enjoy the summer. They should of course be able to do that.

I've never ever had Christmas, Easter, Bank hols etc off in my working life. The parents, mainly have. To be honest, it never bothered me. As long as i get some hols in actual summer, I'm happy. But thinking about it, after reading the posts...it is a bit discriminatory

Completely YABU

I have 4 dcs, I would never expect dh to get priority with holidays. Dcs were our choice, why the hell should that put him ahead of someone without children when it comes to rotas?

exactly. She had a choice. Luckily enough to have that choice. Enough of us would love to have that dilemma. I 'd love to have even one child, and have the holiday juggling rota.