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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To want Christmas holiday when I am due to go on mat leave in January?

16 replies

AliceRR · 19/10/2018 09:54

This is not a big issue and if I need to work Christmas I will but I’m in two minds about it

I have worked Christmas every year at my place apart from last year when they close the office for a week. They are not doing this year. There is me, a partner who also always works and now a new person has just started, in the Leeds office.

My manger has not approved my request but I think it’s because he wants one person in Leeds office to work.

Ordinarily he says if you worked last year then you can have hol this year but office closed last year.

Do you think the fair thing is for me to say I will work given I will go on mat leave probably end Jan?

Or would it be fair to suggest I work the Friday (it’s only the Thursday and Friday that the office is open Christmas week) as DH is also working the Friday in his office (they are splitting it between them) and then someone else can work the Thurs possibly the new girl.

I may work til end of Jan if I can (due 10 Feb) but have said that I might want to work it from home if weather is bad etc.

I barely take holiday so have over 20 days to take!

OP posts:

justfloatingpast · 19/10/2018 09:57

Why is the boss insisting that you, in particular, work over Christmas?

Snitzelvoncrumb · 19/10/2018 09:59

Can you start your leave early? Would you rather this Christmas off or next?

LJFM2B · 19/10/2018 10:03

your entitled to holiday pregnant or not! ... i think you should take a break over Christmas - by this stage im sure you will really appreciate it :)

Different if you didnt have the A/L to take but you do and as youv worked previous years you should be entitled to it!

IzzyGrey · 19/10/2018 10:13

I wouldn't.

IzzyGrey · 19/10/2018 10:13

And if you have a baby next year surely next Christmas would be the most important one to have off?

Original poster

AliceRR · 19/10/2018 10:39

I’m not sure he expects me to work it but mine is the only request he hasn’t approved and I am wondering whether he would be thinking I should work it

Next year I would still be on mat leave if I take a year off

But good point, the year after that I would probably want it, although that’s two years away and who knows what the position would be then (could be in a new job!)

OP posts:

Womaningreen · 19/10/2018 10:40

I think it's fair enough to just ask!

you were the last person who worked to cover Xmas when the office was open, right? So by that logic it's your turn to have Xmas off anyway. Though I agree with a pp who says you might want Xmas off in 2019 so worth pondering that.

Original poster

AliceRR · 19/10/2018 10:45

TBH I’m also thinking that I could work it, from home, and realistically it wouldn’t be v taxing as there isn’t much to do and probably no one will car what I’m doing the more heavily pregnant I am, not that I don’t plan to work, just I mean I’ll be at home, heavily pregnant(ish) and there hopefully won’t be much to do!

OP posts:

Alfie19 · 19/10/2018 10:56

I think it is perfectly reasonable to ask for Christmas leave and no reason you in particular should be denied it. I would maybe prefer to save up leave though and then you can use it to extend your mat leave.

Original poster

AliceRR · 19/10/2018 11:21

@Alfie19 Thanks. I have 21 days and so will probably save some but it’s nice to have Christmas off.

I am now taken with the idea of working it from home so that I can have it next but then if I work it this year, someone will work it next year, so I still might not get it the year after! 🤔

OP posts:

StripyHorse · 19/10/2018 12:26

I know after my mat leave it was still considered that I "had Christmas off" when sorting holiday the following year.

I would probably go for the compromise and ask for the Thursday off but work Friday (while also pointing out you worked the last time the office was open).

As you say, anything could happen in 2 years... new job, expanded office, close down over Christmas etc.

Smerch · 19/10/2018 13:14

I would work it this year because you'll need more flexibility from your workplace once your baby is here and you're juggling childcare.

Also I may have misunderstood but you're not really working Christmas if you're only having to go to work on Thursday and Friday are you? Christmas day is a Tuesday this year.

Original poster

AliceRR · 19/10/2018 13:40

Yes it’s just Thursday and Friday and only working from home so not too bad BUT I have worked every other year and may end up working 2021 anyway if I’m still here so may just suggest one day which seems fair enough

OP posts:

Original poster

AliceRR · 19/10/2018 13:40

2020 not 2021, that’s far away and I’d probably be annoyed if I’d worked this Christmas to get that Christmas off

OP posts:

Di11y · 19/10/2018 13:52

I'd offer working one and the other person working the other.

Darkstar4855 · 19/10/2018 13:58

I’d work it this year so I had more grounds to have it off in two years time - otherwise you will have not worked Christmas for three years in a row and it will be hard for them to justify giving you a fourth Christmas off when others have worked the previous two.

I sympathise as I also work every other Christmas and am pregnant - my mat leave will cover Christmas this year but I know I will have to work next year instead.

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