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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to think having New Year's Eve off is not a fair compensation for working Christmas Day

113 replies

Vintagejazz · 08/10/2014 15:14

Once again my SIL will not be able to join us for Christmas day because she ends up working on this day every year. Her crime? She doesn't have children and so the managers in the organisation for which she works have deemed it fair that those with young children get Christmas Eve and Day off so they can be with their children, and those without get New Year's Eve and Day off so they can go out and celebrate.
My SIL is 45 and does not have any desire to spend NYE out clubbing and pubbing and getting home at 5am. However, she would like to be able to spend Christmas Day with her parents, nieces and nephews, significant other etc. as she has worked on this day for the past 3 years.

AIBU to think this is a rubbish arrangement and to have suggested she and others in a similar position approach management and outline the unfairness of the arrangement and ask that it be reviewed?

OP posts:
youareallbonkers · 08/10/2014 15:17

Was that the arrangement when she took the job? Unfair or not, some jobs have to work BH and Christmas. It's important to me that I don't work Christmas so I wouldn't take a job where this was a possibility

IAmAShitHotLawyer · 08/10/2014 15:17

what job does she do

skylark2 · 08/10/2014 15:17

It's not an awful system, but there should be some flexibility - maybe some people with kids would rather have New Years off because they want to go skiing or something.

Middleagedmotheroftwo · 08/10/2014 15:17

If I were her, I would have a sensible conversation with "the management" and explain her situation. It does seem unfair. I would do it individually though as everyone's circumstances are different.

MrsTerryPratchett · 08/10/2014 15:17

I used to suggest that when I was young and fancy free. I would work Christmas (homeless shelters so you really felt you could make a difference) then get NYE and NYD off. It worked because I suggested it, they were happy and no one made me. I quite enjoyed Christmas with the homeless youth. Real 'meaning of Christmas' stuff.

If it's policy, then that's not OK.

Marmiteandjamislush · 08/10/2014 15:19

YABU, why don't you do a family celebration on NYE? It's not as if she's not getting any time off at all.

squoosh · 08/10/2014 15:20

YANBU.

It certainly sounds very unfair to me that she is required to work every Christmas Day. Parents shouldn't automatically get first dibs.

squoosh · 08/10/2014 15:21

And yes, she should definitely approach the management and suggest that the policy is unfair.

wheresthelight · 08/10/2014 15:23

yanbu at all!! there should be flexibility so everyone does their share of xmas working!

I used to work for a well known recovery company and we obviously had to be open 24/7/365 but xmas day was volunteer based and they made it VERY worthwhile.

is it the sort of job where they could work shorter shifts on rotation?

kids doesn't give you a god given right to abuse those who don't have kids - and I say that as a mum

BarbarianMum · 08/10/2014 15:24

YANBU

Having to work either Xmas Day or New Years Day would be fair. Having no choice as to which one is not - just because you have no children doesn't mean you have no family and not all parents spend Christmas Day with their children either (thinking of divorced parents here).

Doyouthinktheysaurus · 08/10/2014 15:24

YANBU in the sense that everyone should take their turn at working Christmas, not just those without children.

If working Christmas is part of the job, so be it, but everyone should have to take their turn.

I have children and have to work Christmas and new year. I never mind working new year because I'd sleep anyway, but I don't think I should have priority over my colleagues without children for Christmas off. Everyone has some place they'd rather be than work.

scurryfunge · 08/10/2014 15:28

Does seem really unfair. In our organisation there is usually as many who do want to work Christmas as those who don't so there is a big swap about of shifts.
I do recall a massive hissy fit last year when an employee cried about her children's Christmas being ruined because she has to work an 8 til 4pm shift! She felt it was her right to have Christmas off. Bizarre.

LurkingHusband · 08/10/2014 15:29

Don't know about rubbish, but this has a whiff of discrimination about it, although I can't quite nail it atm ....

Original poster
Vintagejazz · 08/10/2014 15:29

Sorry, just to clarify, she has no objection to working her share of Christmas Days. But she, and a lot of others, think it should be decided on a rota basis so that those who worked last Christmas Day get first choice this year as to which days they would like off.

The current arrangement is something the two managers came up with. The staff contracts all specify that they may be asked to work on public and bank holidays etc.

OP posts:
WD41 · 08/10/2014 15:32

I think that's discriminatory and would be contacting acas for advice.

fluffyraggies · 08/10/2014 15:33

As a teen i would have thought NYE or NYD would have been equal to Xmas day Grin

YANBU

Is your SIL the only one being badly effected by this situation in her work place OP? Can she garner support from any other childless employee and approach management about this?

I have a friend who is childless in her 40s and is sick of having to fight her corner for any day off which happens to clash with half term or other school holiday. (local council offices).

grocklebox · 08/10/2014 15:34

Its not just unfair its clear cut discrimination. If they said that everyone with children had to work Christmas Day and anyone without didn't, that would be obvious discrimination. The reverse is also true.

If you put people into different categories based on arbitrary characteristics (age, gender, family status) and treat them differently based on these groupings, you are being discriminatory. This is illegal and your SIL needs to assert her legal right to be treated fairly in the workplace.

YABU if you moan and do nothing. YANBU to stand up for yourself and demand to be treated with fairness and respect.

SoonToBeSix · 08/10/2014 15:34

I think it sounds fair. The employees are thinking if the children not the parents. I doubt you SIL is as upset about working Christmas as a four year old would be not spending Christmas Day with their mum or dad.

squoosh · 08/10/2014 15:37

SoonToBeSix what a load of old nonsense.

LucilleBluth · 08/10/2014 15:38

Shoot me but I think it would be nice for young children to have their parent at home on Christmas day......under 10s maybe. I can see her point though.

chrome100 · 08/10/2014 15:38

It is hugely unfair! There should be a rota so people get Christmas off on alternative years. She is being penalised for being childless.

squoosh · 08/10/2014 15:40

The kids aren't employees of the company, the OP's SIL is, maybe they should be more concerned about her welfare and think about how she might like to spend Christmas Day.

grocklebox · 08/10/2014 15:41

You do not think it sounds fair, you know its unfair but you think thats ok because someone's child gets the benefit of the unfairness.
At least be honest.

TracyBarlow · 08/10/2014 15:43

Of course it's not fair. It's also discriminatory. If I worked with her I'd back her. I have two kids and I would think it awful if my bosses believed I should get Christmas Day off over those who don't.

What a hideous policy.

angelos02 · 08/10/2014 15:44

YANBU

Totally unfair and discrimatory against people that happen not to have children. Everyone should do their fair share of the unpopular shifts.

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