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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

If You're off for Christmas

328 replies

Foxes157 · 19/12/2019 23:33

Not to brag. Essential services are working.

Non Essentials like retail, events and hospitality are working.
We get it you have 2 weeks off. Please have some respect.

OP posts:
Foslady · 20/12/2019 07:57

I get you are upset but really?
I get so few days annual leave and I have no choice but to take time off now as we are in shut down.
DP’s company have ALL their annual leave dictated to them as they have set shutdown times (all at school holiday times - no cheap breaks for us that will be child free).
I too have had to work all over the Christmas and New Year period both with and without children (night shifts so double blow for them as I had to sleep during the day and was tired when I got up for some of them also).
I am polite to those I meet that are working and don’t just go to the shops for the hell of it.
My dad is in residential care and the care staff are all getting gifts from us for their kindness and hard work not just at Christmas but all year round.
Think of it this way - at least what you are doing is essential, plenty of people are working tirelessly in non essential jobs over Christmas. If you don’t like the job I suggest you look around for a different sector to work In in 2020

EllieQ · 20/12/2019 07:58

I’ve got two weeks off work after today, which I need to cover childcare in the school holidays (no grandparents nearby to help out; didn’t want to use holiday club over Xmas). I’ve used my annual leave for this. Is that acceptable, or should I not mention it in case I hurt someone’s feelings?

GaaaaarlicBread · 20/12/2019 08:01

Nobody has asked you to be happy for them , but keep bitterness to yourself. I work for the nhs and have two days off , my husband works for the nhs and doesn’t even have xmas day off - he’s not bitter about it and the fact he’ll see me for all of 15 mins in the morning until late at night .
Here have a 🍪

Thestrangestthing · 20/12/2019 08:04

I'm assuming you get holidays throughout the year OP?

NameChangeNugget · 20/12/2019 08:05

Do you not tell her rookie when you’re off in August?

What a ridiculous post

My2ndfavouriteFword · 20/12/2019 08:06

I've been there. When I worked in retail and was studying I was exhausted and really could do with some time off but frequently worked Christmas ece6then straight back in after Christmas. So it meant I didn't get to seey family as I lived 300 miles away. So now I do take a lot of pleasure in time off for Christmas but I do remember how hard it was.

Thestrangestthing · 20/12/2019 08:06

Plenty of people have to leave their kids on Christmas day, not just the ones that work in the services. I know an airhostess who was away for the whole Christmas last year

Brefugee · 20/12/2019 08:06

I've been off all week, back on 27th. I'm using up some of my remaining annual leave to do so and have had a hectic work year with a lot of travelling.

In the past I've worked during many holidays and so on (ex-Military) so I'll enjoy my time off. Most people I know are working some combination over the holidays. They're philosophical about it.

BaubleTheLumpOfCoal · 20/12/2019 08:08

When you sign up to work in retail, hospitality or the emergency services surely you must know that having days like Christmas, Boxing Day and NYE/NYD off isn't going to happen that often?

I am fortunate enough to not be working right now, but when I worked for the NHS my 'special' days off were few and far between.
After missing birthdays, christmas, school plays, school activities.. I'm very happy that I don't have to do sod all this year.

I understand you being pissed off OP, but it isn't the fault of the people who have time off.

WhereverIMayRoam · 20/12/2019 08:08

Get over yourself! Sometimes other people have something you don’t have, in this case a long break at Christmas. It’s not bragging to talk about their plans or say they’re looking forward to it and actually it’s really petty that you see it that way. Most people I know don’t have anywhere near two weeks off, including me but I don’t resent those who do Hmm. You’ve managed to sound ridiculously self important AND self pitying.

Radardodgingninga · 20/12/2019 08:09

I think a lot of industries close down over Christmas nowadays. My DC work in finance, law and construction. All of them will be off work from this afternoon until January 2nd or 6th. Yay! Lucky them!

I worked in retail and we only got Christmas Day and my Dad often didn’t even get that. Even when his rota gave him Christmas Day off he would often volunteer to work it because it was triple time (private security company) and we needed the money.

If the working hours of your job make you so unhappy that you want other people to keep quiet about their different circumstances I think it’s time to be thinking about a new job.

SillyUnMurphy · 20/12/2019 08:09

You have annual leave allowance. I have annual leave allowance. I’m taking three weeks off at Christmas. I’m sure you’ll be taking a couple of weeks off at some point when I’m sat at my desk dreaming of sand and palm trees.

Equimum · 20/12/2019 08:10

If we all focused on being grateful for what we do have a bit more, and weren’t constantly comparing with others, maybe we would all stop feeling upset and offended so easily (me included).

My DH is off for two weeks from tomorrow. We have barely seen him this month, and he has had to miss many of our childrens’ Christmas activities due to work travel. We know he chose this job, and yes, it is hard, but through the long nights with a non-sleeping child, I have been very much looking forwards to his time off and feel we should be able celebrate it after the last few weeks apart.

Missillusioned · 20/12/2019 08:11

Im forced to take time off over Xmas. It comes out of my annual leave.
I would prefer not to. My children are spending a lot of the Christmas break with their father and I have no wider family. So I am forced to waste my annual leave on a few cold lonely days in the middle of winter, rather than in the summer when I wanted to take them. Not everyone enjoys the Christmas break.

MistyCloud · 20/12/2019 08:15

@Foxes157 YABU to post the most pointless thread of the week! Hmm

So WHAT if some have 2 weeks off? ... I am off from today until 6th Jan 2020. Using holiday leave I have saved. I worked through the summer months when other colleagues had weeks and weeks off, and now I am having a well-deserved LONG Christmas break.

I am sorry people have to work it, but am not apologising for the time off I am having. I earned it, and I deserve it.

What about posting a thread about people who have 2-3 weeks off in the summer? Hmm

ConstanceL · 20/12/2019 08:16

My place of work shuts down from today until the new year. And I've taken a couple of days leave either side. I don't know how saying that is bragging! Agree with pp - if your job is making you feel this bitter towards other people, you could look into retraining?

skippythebushkangarootoo · 20/12/2019 08:17

I'm a nurse... I've worked many, many Christmases but am off this year 🎉
Do I hate everyone who has it off every year? Nope 🎄😂😂
HTH 🤷‍♀️

PhilCornwall1 · 20/12/2019 08:18

We get it you have 2 weeks off. Please have some respect.

Your choice what you do for a living.

Yetanotherwinter · 20/12/2019 08:19

Get grip OP. Hardly anyone gets two weeks off. I’ve spent 30 years working shifts, weekends and public holidays so I’ll talk about it all I like. I never complained whilst working Christmas whilst my children and family were at home because it was my choice to do that job. There are thousands of people on here who do similar. Just because you picked the wrong career choice it doesn’t mean others can’t enjoy themselves.

iklboodolphrednosedreindeer · 20/12/2019 08:20

What's with all the Ebenezer Scrooge posts today?

HemlockStarglimmer · 20/12/2019 08:21

I also have an annual leave allowance. But I'm not allowed to use any of it in December (retail). I'd love to be able to take a week off to coincide with my family's holidays.
I can see where you're coming from OP.

KatherineJaneway · 20/12/2019 08:24

Has somebody really gone 'Na na na na na' at you or is this you feeling guilty for leaving your daughter and are therefore taking perfectly normal conversations out of context?

dottiedodah · 20/12/2019 08:25

StillMedusa Respect to you for doing such a difficult job .Please enjoy your holiday ,you have earned it tenfold over!

user1473878824 · 20/12/2019 08:28

“Have some respect”? Ffs.

crochetmonkey74 · 20/12/2019 08:29

Nope, I'll say what I like about MY JOB and my holidays- Your job, your holidays- it's part of the deal- I don't need to tiptoe round you.