AIBU to think this is unfair

[yarncakes]

I've always worked through Christmas, including christmas day, boxing day and also new years day for nearly 10 years. Now I have a little one, I still dont mind working it but I want to negotiate with the other employees and work it amongst us so work gets done but we all work together so we can finish sooner if that makes sense.

However the team leader has never worked weekends or during Christmas period as i know she has mentioned before its because she has all of her family and friends over her house and she has to cook, thus she downright refuses to do it and always has done. I said I've got a small child who I want to enjoy spending Christmas morning and I have a family too, just like the rest of us. I don't know whether I have a right to be annoyed about this or what, we're not even in December yet but we have to get it organised soon.

I don't like doing tit for tat but she will not negotiate. Not even doing half morning and I will do the other half. Tell me if I'm being petty.

So you want lots of people to work for a bit of time each on Christmas Day etc? That would be a weird way of doing it, I can’t see anybody agreeing tbh.

Most places have some kind of rota to make it fair that people take turns to work on Christmas. So you should just be saying you’ve done it for ten years, and it’s time somebody else took a turn.

“I’ve done it every year since 2010, so I won’t be working Christmas this year.”

Get her told you’ve done it for a decade and you are giving plenty of warning as you will not be doing it again this year as you have plans.

No doing half a day compromises. That’s a helpful idea for those who havent yet worked the festive period. But not for you.

Put your child first and stop bending over backwards for these ungrateful people. Straighten your backbone and stand firm.

When asked if you could just do blah blah have the following phrase ready : I’d love to help but unfortunately this year I have got plans so I’m very sorry”.

Yep. Christmas is rotated so if more than one person wants it off the person who had it off last year works it, then establish a formal rota which can be reviewed if people are willing to swap.

Whoever worked last Christmas has Christmas off this year.
Whoever works Christmas and Boxing has NYE and NY day off. Vice versa.
If no one can agree then names in a hat or EVERYBODY works a short shift on every one of these days.
Team leader doesn't agree then go above and complain. It's unfair.

What does your contract say about working on those days?

Where I work we’re supposed to work Christmas one year, new year the following and so on but there’s always the same ones that get Christmas off. Every damn year! Really unfair and management don’t seem to care, what can you do 🤷🏼‍♀️ So this year I thought sod it I’ll try and get Christmas off again but got declined 😳 damn place 😂 🙄 But please stand firm you’ve more than done your bit you deserve time off with your family

As a nurse I’ve gone into my job knowing it’s a 24-7 52 weeks of the year type deal. Anyone who works in a similar area knows that before applying. It is a absolutely unfair that she won’t negotiate so go higher, do you have a union?

Wether you spend your Christmas surrounded by family or on your sofa in your jammies it doesn’t matter everyone has the same entitlement to enjoy their day.

It’s a shame you’ve let it go on so long but definitely make a stand now and do not back down

The one thing one of my bosses at the care company used to say was she would try to give parents xmas day off but we would be expected to work New year and vice versa. Those who wanted to go out new year would work xmas day.
Of course there was a chance that some of us wouldn't get it all off but my boss then guaranteed next year those that ended up working what they didnt want to that year would be guaranteed that time off next year.
Was a great system and I I always got xmas eve xmas day and boxing day off.

@Iwantacookie sorry but I fundamentally disagree that parents should get priority at Christmas. And I say that as a parent who has missed countless family holidays because of work. Anyone who wants it off should have equal entitlement

Jyst day you’ve worked the last x Christmas days so it’s someone elses turn. Do it soon to give her and others plenty of notice.

@florence other people could request it off and most people were happy with the way it works.
I didnt make the rules just went along with them.

If you want a less confrontational phrase, you could laugh and just say “I think I’ve done my time.”