To have taken all this time off?

[Binchicken]

I'm just having a bit of a flap and wonder if other will think i'm taking the piss with the amount of leave I have over christmas and new year.

Most of my colleagues are finishing on Friday and will be back on the 2nd. I've used a bit of my holiday allowance so that I finish on Thursday and come back on Monday the 7th.

My justification for this was I'll be travelling to scotland to spend that time with my family, I don't go abroad so I'm unlikely to use that holiday time during the rest of the year, and it ensures my flights to/from scotland will be relatively cheap compared to flying when most people are getting back to work.

I just felt like a bit of a prat when a colleague looked at the calendar and announced "wow look at how long Binchicken is off for, she might as well not come back!" (in a jokey way, but it made me wonder if people would think i'm taking the piss a bit.) :-/

You don't need a justification for this. You could use it to sit around in your pyjamas eating crumpets all day. As long as it's authorised I don't see any problem.

course not its you entitled leave have a good xmas and enjoy it

Yanbu

I work PT - finish tomorrow and return on the 7th

and I have only had to use 2 days leave!

Normal where I work. I also took 3.5 weeks off in the summer :) this is why I work in public sector now

I finished up today and I'm not back till the 7th. Not going anywhere just really wanted a break. Just relax and enjoy yourself!

This is pretty standard where I work. I'm clearly a grafter because I'm working on Monday. Enjoy your break!

Don’t overthink it. My colleague is off for a similar amount of time, she has annual leave left, I don’t. She chooses to take hers at Christmas, I used days on other half terms. Enjoy your time off

In the softest and nicest way op I have anxiety and I overthink these things, but it’s perfectly normal! You’re contractually entitled - who gives a stuff if you take 2 x 2 week holidays or multiple random days?

Your colleagues are jealous

Like others have said if it’s all approved then take the time and enjoy it guilt free

I presume you have the same amount of annual leave as anyone else?
So if you're taking lots of leave now, there will be another time of year when you don't get to take any.

YANBU! Your boss agreed it and it’s your AL that you’re entitled to. Sounds like you are a nice considerate colleague that your workmates are lucky to have, and feel relaxed enough with you for a spot of mild piss-taking. Have a lovely break

I and one of my colleagues finished on 13th and won’t be back til 7th. Christmas is a slow period for us, so better to do it now than have three weeks during the summer like some of my team members.

It's your leave.

You applied to take it and the application was approved.

No need to feel weird or guilty.

I'm taking the same amount of leave as you, OP, and I refuse to feel in the least bit guilty about it. I've saved my annual leave, I need a break & I can't wait.

I finished yesterday and back on the 4th of Jan, I didn't take a summer break like most people. Embrace it!

I feel the same way with my job but with even longer off! Where I work you're not allowed to take any holidays over the Christmas/New Years period so it's fair for everyone.

But my Doctor gave me a sick note so I haven't been in since mid November! Won't be back in until Jan 7th (unless Doctor still says no) so my colleagues think I've left. They're not the nicest to me anyway, so I don't miss them, but the comments can make you worry.

I've just come to terms that I can enjoy my holiday with my family, no matter what people say! (I cant help having a fractured pelvis, and you cant help using your entitled leave!)

Enjoy your leave. Others may prefer to use theirs in the warmer summer months, when kids have long holidays.

There will always be someone is grumpy about stuff like this. Everyone has the chance to make annual leave requests, best to just ignore negative comments.

If it doesn’t mean someone else having to cover your work then why not? In my work we all have to do one day next week and one day the week after to keep the place going

I work for the nhs and always take 2 weeks off over Christmas, it's a good chance to spend some time with my kids and I work hard and am bloody well entitled to it!

If it was a massive problem then your manager wouldn't have approved it in the first place.

Relax and enjoy your holiday, and no checking work emails makes note to take own advice!

Why would you feel odd about taking 2 weeks annual leave entitlements.

I usually save up my annual leave and take 6 weeks over Xmas every second year. That still leaves 5 weeks over the 2 years so I also take a week here and there to use that also.

I think you're over thinking what appears to be a joke. Enjoy your time off op

I think thats the best way to arrange your A/L I do it for mine. I work out my weekend shift patterns in advance and book around them so I get longer off. I'll be off most of February using up the last of my A/L for the year. It's great.

Everyone where I work is taking 2+ weeks except a couple of younger people with no kids who are saving leave for other stuff.

Yanbu. Use your leave as you see fit.
I work pt and finished at 1 yesterday and will return on 7th Jan.
Next year, i may have to work either xmas eve or between xmas/new year. I may not be in the job much longer so why I'm thinking ahead I don't know.

It's absolutely fine if it doesn't leave people short handed at busy time of year. Someone has to take holiday at Christmas ( if it's allowed) . Some businesses are quiet at Xmas and this might therefore be seen as more sociable than eg taking it at accounts year end.Other areas eg NHS are more busy in which case you might feel that if you take holiday this year maybe one of your colleagues would like the opportunity next year after all you get a long stretch off for less A/L days which is a benefit to you. Most of us get some sort of break anyway with the BHs . Have a lovely time.