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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

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

179 replies

JazzyPants · 03/06/2012 13:43

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?

OP posts:
WhiteWidow · 03/06/2012 19:56

You're being unreasonable, I've already had to give up holidays because the other person I work with is going on maternity leave. People who have kids shouldn't be put above the rest. Why should you monopolise the nicest weeks of the year :/

MsPaperbackWriter · 03/06/2012 19:59

Nightwatch - you are being so defensive. The reason I, and some others are saying why would people without kids want to go on hol in school
Holiday time is because we wonder why pay sky high prices and be surrounded by kids in te busiest time! My eldest starts school in Sep so I'll have to pay more and go in busy times and it is so so much more expensive! That is why we are saying why would you if you didn't have to. No need to be so defensive.

QueenofPlaids · 03/06/2012 20:19

YABVVU

I try to be considerate of colleagues with school age children, but only to a point. I'll happily try to avoid peak summer season, but we've has milestone birthdays and family events falling in half term weeks - sorry but i do think an 80yr old who might not be around for much longer is just as valid a reason to take the October break.

I've also had it suggested that I ought to be willing to work between Xmas and NY because we don't have kids in school. Umm no, DP was forced to take 2 weeks then and we use it to visit family that is scattered around the country. Sometimes it's not just people with kids in school who have restrictions.

monkeymoma · 03/06/2012 20:20

"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"

y've still got family holiday head on there
pre kids we used to interrail, no flights, car hire or hotels!
also used to bundle into a friends car and go camp in friend's gardens or fields
school holiday prices were never an issue for me pre kids
(actually even with kids we're more likely to use basic camp sites etc which are still fairly cheap in summer holiday, rather than kids club type ready-pitched and shallet ones which are really expensive). Coaches abroad (which I'ld never attempt with kids) prices don't fluctuate much

and there aren't that many music festivals on in the winter either so can't really compare peak/off peak prices for that kinda holiday

then there's the retirement type coach holiday etc where the price fluctiates more because of season than school holidays

knowitallstrikesagain · 03/06/2012 20:22

Pre kids I used to fly all over the world! Could interrail or camp now with children. It is the flights during school holidays I can't afford.

monkeymoma · 03/06/2012 20:23

and what you'll do in the school holidays is something you take into consideration when thinking about how or what you'll do when you go back to work post mat leave. Since DH works all year round I do a zero hours contract so I can take time off when needed, and will only consider a proper contract if it's term time. I think parents do need to take some responsibility for the situation they find themselves in re balancing children and work and not just expect the rest of the world to mould itself around them!

monkeymoma · 03/06/2012 20:24

there are alternatives to flights which are much more doable without kids like international coaches and foot passenger on ferries etc

knowitallstrikesagain · 03/06/2012 20:29

That's what I mean. If I wanted to go camping or on the ferry, I could do that with DC. Before DC, I wanted to fly as it was quick and easy. I wanted to hire a car and drive from one side or France to the other. I would not do this with DC, hours in a car would be a nightmare but on my own, bliss! That's why I avoided school holidays like the plague, because the prices for flights and car hire were hiked up.

monkeymoma · 03/06/2012 20:29

just checked, london - paris on eurolines is just over £50 during the summer hols this year. not at all prohibitive

monkeymoma · 03/06/2012 20:32

(and if we did fly is was to places like Serbia which weren't family holiday hot spots)

Kewcumber · 03/06/2012 20:33

In my experience people without children are quite often expected to take up the slack during maternity leave or when people are off with sick children when its not feasible to bring in a temp. Telling them they go to the back of the leave queue as well seems a sure fire way to lose people who don't have children to companies with fairer leave policies.

monkeymoma · 03/06/2012 20:36

anyway I find it telling that now that I have kids I don't look back on my child free days with any guilt (when I did take time off in summer holidays to make memories with the now father of my children, or to spend my father's last christmasses with him etc) - haven't changed my mind at all, I still think there are people without kids who actually have more responsibilities than me (aging parents, probate etc) and feel no entitlement over them

hiveofbees · 03/06/2012 20:45

YANBU to want to have time off in school holidays. Everyone is equally entitled to time off at particular times of year, IMO, regardless of your reasons for wanting it.

Flicktheswitch · 03/06/2012 20:48

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Hulababy · 03/06/2012 20:57

YABU.

Maybe their partner works in a school?
Maybe they are going away with someone who works in a school or who has children?
Maybe the holiday they want means it has tp be in the holidays?
Maybe they just want to go away in the holidays?

They are as entitled as anyone else to have holidays when they chose.

Mind, I can't really understand why anyone would chose to go away in school holidays given a chose - the cost is more and it is busier!

lololizzy · 03/06/2012 21:06

hear hear to Kew' as this is my experience much of the time

lololizzy · 03/06/2012 21:07

agreed Hula' and I sometimes choose later because of the cost...but.... i do want time in summer too so i can spend time with family / friends / go to festivals etc...and yes that includes spending time with children, by choice!!!

GreenEggsAndNichts · 03/06/2012 23:22

I'd think the overpriced flights/bookings during school holidays would discourage those without children by default. If they're booking holidays during school holidays then they must have a reason. It's up to them; all employees have a right to have a holiday, and the employer shouldn't be dictating who can take them at what time (unless this decision is based on their role, eg my husband is a lecturer so can't take holidays at certain times of the year).

I'm a parent, it would be kind of co-workers to take my situation into consideration if they were able to, but I certainly don't expect them to. Everyone has a personal life.

I've seen your follow-up post. You should contest it.

PerimenopausalMyArse · 04/06/2012 02:30

YABVU.

CrispyCod · 04/06/2012 02:41

The people (with or without kids) who annoy me are those who think that because they have taken the same week off for the past few years are automatically entitled to book it.

' ......but I always take that week off'. Tough luck, I got in there first this year!!!

They still try and guilt you out of it though.

diddl · 04/06/2012 09:04

Well it is a choice to have children.

But once they are in school, you can only holiday within set times.

People without children don´t have that restriction-so some consideration on their part is nice.

That said, my Dad used to be restricted to "factory fortnight"-fine when we came along-but it was throughout his working life-before we were born & after we left home!

Now that´s being restricted!

Traybo2 · 04/06/2012 09:08

Yes everyone's holidays are equal and should be treated first come first served basis. I have 2 kids but wouldn't expect others who don't to not have time off because I choose to have kids. What about the summer hols their really long and most ppl go away during this time regardless of kids

Bartimosaurus · 04/06/2012 09:11

Haven't read it all but YABVVVVVVVU

My brother has no children (and is not intending to have any). His wife works in education so only get school holidays. His company gives priority to those with children so it's really rare that my brother gets to take holiday at the same time as his wife! That is very unfair I think

hels71 · 04/06/2012 10:16

MAybe companies should find ways to ensure that everyone who wants time in school holidays can have one week then. Then after that it is first come first served.
That way people with children could always have at least one week when they could be with them out of school time and those without children who want school hols can also have the same.
(don't know how this would work in reality but it seems to me that some workplaces may need to make things fairer to ensure everyone gets at least one week they want)

happybubblebrain · 04/06/2012 10:23

I sometimes think the pensioners should buy their shopping from M&S some other time than the 12 - 2pm slot, when workers are trying to buy their lunch, since they can go any time of the day. But instead they cause massive delays. But I know I am BVVVVVVVVU ,and so are you OP.