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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To moan about the Christmas holiday schedule at work

15 replies

Yellowskies1988 · 24/05/2019 16:49

All Christmas holiday requests needed to be in for the draw this week as to who gets what.

As it stands we have 3 production shifts. 6-14:00, 14:00-22:00 which rotate and a permanent night shift that is the same staff. This is Sunday night until Friday 22:00

The draw was made today for my shift and the results were put up on the notice board who gets what off if you had applied and which days they have off... As it falls my shift for Christmas eve is 14:00-22:00 which alot of requests were placed for... This is the first year, usually Christmas eve shuts down at 2pm and same for NYE. both shifts do one each and have the other day off depending how it falls... It swaps around every 4-5 years due to the calendar.

4 people in my department applied for 24, 27, 30 & 31 December annual leave. 2 got it 2 didn't, I get the maximum allowed is 2 people that's not an issue. Is it just me or does it seem unreasonable that they should have been split between the 4 staff who wanted it not 2 people are off and 2 aren't. Skill set is irrelevant as we all do and cover each others jobs + also ls it unreasonable from a workers POV that this list went up is against staff confidentiality... And the time of it which was right at the end of my shift today. Should the request slips just been handed out with either yes or no by them.

Bit of a rant and im frustrated for the weekend.

OP posts:

CornishMaid1 · 24/05/2019 16:57

I get the putting on the board at the end of the shift, so you can stick it up and do a runner before the complaints come in.

I do think it is odd that there are four of you who wanted the fours day and two got all of them and two got none of them. I would have split it so that two do two of them and two do the other two, unless there is a specific reason, like someone going abroad to see family over Christmas.

DSis works at a hospital and they try to split it fairly so that everyone gets something off if they want and if there is not the space, someone gets Christmas off and works New Year and vice versa. Seems much fairer to everyone.

Hello1231 · 24/05/2019 17:02

That does seem an unfair wait to do it, they probably think that 2 day chunks arent particularly great, but at least that way everyone would have some time off! I used to work shifts, and we would draw for all of the shifts, and first one out would choose which shift they wanted off and so on.

VenusOfWillendorf · 24/05/2019 17:06

If I understand you rightly, four people asked for 24, 27,30 and 31 off. Two people have been given this and two others work all four days. You think two people should have been given 24, 27 and work 30, 31 and the other two people work 24, 27 and get off 30, 31.
YANBU. Ask them to reconsider.

Original poster

Yellowskies1988 · 24/05/2019 17:15

@VenusOfWillendorf yeah that's correct I'm just a bit annoyed at it all in general.

@Cornishmaid1 thats my belief as to what they have done this.
I get they can't guarantee staff who have the Christmas period as annual leave one year that next year others take priority because people leave etc.

I'm just annoyed really, from a personal point of view as I have a son who is autistic and a wife with a terminal illness, although she is only showing small signs of the onset I'm a bit upset, Plus one of the chosen dates is the anniversary of my mother's death. that's not me suggesting I should get it as I know people have circumstances too. Maybe why I'm feeling extra fed up but like I say that's my personal circumstances

OP posts:

Trafalger · 24/05/2019 17:36

They should of done 1 gets Christmas the other gets new year. I think it is unfair the way they have done it. Can you appeal and ask for that?

Someoneonlyyouknow · 24/05/2019 17:42

I suppose putting the list up means everyone can see who was successful in the draw and you can see it was done fairly?

The time to object would have been when the terms of the draw were proposed - if you had been 'lucky' you would probably not want anything changed. Splitting the 4 Christmas/New Year days between the 4 staff would seem fairer but if you were one of the people getting those days off would you be suggesting sharing with your colleagues? Sorry for all you have going on but it sounds as if your work will always be demanding at that time of year.

Cornettoninja · 24/05/2019 17:44

Actually I think it can run on a cycle with people getting alternate years with new starters simply taking the place of the person they’ve replaced. It just means they’ll get their turn next year.

MyDcAreMarvel · 24/05/2019 17:55

Should be you get Xmas or New Year, not both.

Coffeeonthesofa · 24/05/2019 17:59

I agree the criteria should have been set out in a fairer way from the start, presumably easier to get everyone to agree then so that they got at least something of what they wanted, neither of the lucky ones is now going to give up what they have.
The choice should have been 1 day each for Christmas and New Year
Or 2 people Christmas and two people New Year.
Both Christmas and New year for 2 people ( if all 4 are likely to apply for them) is not fair.
I have previously worked in catering and in a clinical setting and both of these were “Christmas or New Year” and if volunteering didn’t sort out the issue, then lucky dip it was. I think this year is a lost cause, you need to get everyone to agree to a fairer arrangement for next year

PotteryLady · 24/05/2019 18:08

I guess some people want to go away and need the full week off. Maybe you should have all agreed before hand to share but all of you wanted the 4 days it's only now you haven't got them you are saying it's unfair.

How did they do the draw? Was there witnesses?

Original poster

Yellowskies1988 · 24/05/2019 18:13

@potterylady.

The draw was done by 1 person in their office!

It has always been either Xmas or new year as stated before hand either shift finished at 2pm Christmas or nye and that was it until the day after boxing day or day after New year's day. I'm very annoyed still it's really wound me up to be honest. As it seems to me and others I've spoken to the favourites seem to be off

OP posts:

ForalltheSaints · 24/05/2019 18:15

At least you have been given plenty of notice, but I feel that either alternate years or work one of Christmas and New Year would be reasonable.

Probably the best approach if it is the first year of working beyond 2pm on the 24th and 31st, would be to argue for the 2020 draw to be only for those who worked in 2019.

Coffeeonthesofa · 24/05/2019 18:20

Should have said YANB a little U all 4 of you are getting two days at Christmas and two at New Year, just not the extra days you wanted.
Many people will be working on the 25th/ 26th and 1st /2nd.
Sorry to hear about your wife, but if anything were to happen to her health wise over the holidays (I sincerely hope that doesn’t happen) you would expect medical staff to be working.

Coffeeonthesofa · 24/05/2019 18:22

Sorry should have said YAB a little U

mrsm43s · 24/05/2019 18:43

Objectively, it would probably be fairer to have split it 2 days each as PPs have said.

However personally, I would prefer a week long break over Christmas/NY every other year rather than just a couple of days off every year, and I guess that is what the person doing the allocations thought.

I think its fair to raise with management that those who have worked the whole of the Xmas/NY period should get priority for leave next year.

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