To think this is discrimination

[Hiptrip]

I work in a 365 days a year industry. My colleagues and I, have to provide cover over Christmas.

As I worked over Christmas and New Year last year, I booked and was promised this year off. I have this in writing.

Two colleagues have announced that they can't get childcare, and now management have come back to me and said I have to work. (Single, no kids was planning to have fun with friends and family. Shouldn't have mentioned it in my break at work.)

I have now received a written directive that my leave is cancelled, with the threat of disciplinary if I don't turn up.

No unions here, but what are my chances of claiming constructive dismissal if I don't go to work?

We are a team of twelve and those with families, who are rostered to work have a month to sort themselves out, as does everyone else. Why should it be me that has to come in the whole time, along with our unfortunate manager who has no choice because she is in charge?

I don't understand what is so special about the one day. Christmas is a season, so there are other days for the magic to happen. Kids are off school for two weeks of magical days.

Purple

I may have been projecting there, however, I’m sick of this attitude of adults not taking responsibility and not being considerate. If we were all kinder, the world would be a better place. I don’t think any of our wants re Christmas should come above a child’s

@TheCatsPaws

It's just being kind

As adults, we are capable of reason and being kind.

As adults, we can be more logical.

Are you that poster who wanted people to move for you and your pushchair on the train? You have the same patronising tone in your posts.

I’m certainly glad I’m from a culture that prioritises family and don’t work with some of these people.

And this is from the same poster who said: "Why is it relatives jobs to look after their family members kids?"

I call "goady fucker."

Every job I’ve ever had, I’ve been employed as a resource. Not as a childless person, not as a parent, but for my ability to do the job. My employer expected me to resolve any travel issues to and from work, and any childcare issues, because they were not the employers problem.

I’ve never worked in a 365 industry, but surely it must be similar?

Why can’t the rota organiser discount those who worked last year, and ask for volunteers from those who didn’t?

OP, I wish you luck with this. I can see both sides, but you as a resource have the same right to time off as the resources you work with.

If we were all kinder, the world would be a better place.

Oh it's definitely you. I'd recognise that tone anywhere 😂

I’m sick of this attitude of adults not taking responsibility and not being considerate

You are an adult. You are not taking responsibility for taking your fair share of Christmas working. You are not being considerate of those people who want to spend time with their own family, whoever is in it.

I'm shocked that some people think their colleagues should prioritise someone else's family over their own.

It may come as a shock but my family are 100% more important to me than someone else's.

Family is more than children. I'm astounded that people are so bloody thick.

How about adults taking responsibility for their own kids.

I call "goady fucker."

I'm inclined to agree.

No, I’m not. You’ve all reminded me why I usually stay out of this section of MN though. Thank you for the horrible comments.

Horrible comments? You were the one who accused people without children of hating kids and being nasty to disabled children.

You’ve all reminded me why I usually stay out of this section of MN though.

That's not very kind.

I accused people who make these sort of threads of it. Not people without kids.

I’m now in floods of tears after that comment because it’s thrown up memories of a particularly difficult miscarriage so 👍🏻

You have no idea of people’s circumstances, just try to think about your words.

Don't knock any of us over in your rush to leave this section.

If anyone's need to be at home with their special snowflakes children is more important than everyone else then they need to take personal responsibility and book their annual leave in to cover it.

Personally I find this top trumps of who is more worthy or deserving of time off at Christmas pretty yukky.

You have no idea of people’s circumstances, just try to think about your words.

Right back at you.

Cats The irony in many of your postings is astonishing. Now it's You have no idea of people’s circumstances, just try to think about your words when YOU have no idea of other people's circumstances and why people who don't have children might have equally valid reasons to want to be home for Christmas. Now playing the martyr doesn't wash.

Psycho Children’s needs come above adults.

Children need air, food, a warm safe place to sleep.

They WANT they're parents home.
They can't always have what they want.

What if a child wants the seat you're in? Will you move?
What if they want the food you're eating? Will you give it to them?

In the words of Russel Howard. People need to start taking responsibility for what dropped out of their vaginas.

You're kids. Your problem. If you are in a 365 24/7 job then you know that you need childcare every single day potentially. So that's your problem.
Not your colleagues. Not your bosses.
And if you can't resolve that then it may be time to find a more suitable role.

If someone has special circumstances, like you said, that is different. OP just wants to go on holiday.

You have no idea of people’s circumstances, just try to think about your words.

This applies to you. Did you consider IDSneighbour, who posted:

If I had to work on Christmas Day I would not be able to go away to stay with my Mum and/or sister's family. I would wake up on my own, go to work and come home to spend the evening on my own in an empty house. Miserable.

EQUALITY every one should have the same rights at work this is totally unfair. it's discriminating over people with no kids. years ago my manger called me and another women into the office to book our holidays on the year planner she had marked out summer ,christmas and all the school holidays as because we didn't have kids we wouldn't need them .Ask the what criteria they have used to select who has leave and if they say people have kids it is discriminating again you go to hr .It's shit working christmas when you have kids i've done it but if that part of your job you have to do. Not fair for there home life to dictate colleague's holidays

I may have been projecting there, however, I’m sick of this attitude of adults not taking responsibility and not being considerate.

Why don't you try it, then? Take responsibility for your own kids and childcare, and be considerate to others who also want to spend Christmas with their families.

Go on, give it a go!

I can not believe there are suggestions OP just calls in sick. It’s one thing to be annoyed that lack of Childcare is the reason she is having to work, but to drop a colleague, who has children, in the shit on Christmas Day is a particularly awful thing to do. If that happened to me, I genuinely would be put in an impossible situation.

I might have missed it, but what did the employer say when they were told something had been booked and deposit paid?