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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Annual leave at Christmas

281 replies

Miamarshmallows · 16/12/2020 22:11

If you work/had a job, how much time did you take off at Christmas?
My friend posted on Facebook just now with 'Imagine having this Friday off until the 4th Jan, how funny is that?" and everyone responded with laughing emojis. I'm guessing because it's a rarity to have 2 weeks off for Christmas? Except it isn't. I know many colleagues spread their leave out but I always had 2 weeks off at Christmas. Just wondered if I was in the minority?! Obviously it's different for keyworkers etc.

OP posts:
n00b1 · 17/12/2020 09:56

I don’t have any time off at Christmas this year. I work in the NHS, but there is still the opportunity to book annual leave and I usually have at least a few days, but this year I don’t see the point since there’s nothing I can really do. Christmas leave is based on a priority list, with people who have had time off in recent years being lowest priory for having leave accepted. I thought it made more sense to avoid booking this year to climb up the priority list for next year.

CorianderQueen · 17/12/2020 10:04

I have 23-27 off this year as agreed to work NYE/NYD and then 30-31 and 2-4.

But we all chat and arrange around eaChother so that we all get a good chunk. Only day where no one from my team of three is in is Xmas day.

CorianderQueen · 17/12/2020 10:04

At my old job everyone took 7 days over Xmas

Crazycakelady17 · 17/12/2020 10:04

I’m a SAHM so not really a issue fir me hubby is off from tomorrow till the 4th but on call 29,30,31st but unlikely to be called in
When he was in the military it wasn’t unusual to have 3-4 weeks over Christmas but the. Again due to the nature of the job would be often away from weeks/months throughout the year so swings and roundabouts really

CorianderQueen · 17/12/2020 10:05

Oh and technically we do count as key workers even though everyone hates us (journo) and we also don't get bank holidays off.

WootMoggie · 17/12/2020 10:09

They're probably making a statement along the lines of "Why waste holiday allowance if you're going to be home anyway? Why not just work from home, get the money, and just deal with kids on an ad-hoc basis?"

That's a lot of words to put into someone else's mouth, but I suspect that's what's going on here...

Requinblanc · 17/12/2020 10:11

I really hate how some offices decide to close down for 2 weeks over the Christmas period and force workers to use their annual leave. I have to use 3 days of my leave over that period although it would not be my choice to do so.

Strangedayindeed · 17/12/2020 10:12

My husbands not a key worker and he’s booked 2 weeks off for Xmas

Toddlerteaplease · 17/12/2020 10:19

We are not allowed to have annual leave over Christmas. But they usually work it so we get good time off, and we can occasionally have a random annual leave day if staffing is ok. I'm a nurse.

Heathcliff27 · 17/12/2020 10:32

Retail so no annual leave allowed in December, we're closed xmas day, boxing day and the 27th and the way my rota has worked out i'm off 28th and 29th as well.

mrstea301 · 17/12/2020 10:36

I'm working right up to Christmas Eve, we may finish early on that day, then I'm only working on NyE (to let my colleague take it off) then back to work on 4/01. I've never had it off all the way through, but at least one of my friends has never not had it off, in any of the jobs she's had. I currently work in a very small team (four of us, not including my colleague who is currently on mat leave) so we just worked it out between us. My husbands work finishes on Friday until 4/01. (Jealous, you say?!) so he'll be doing the Christmas food shop!

CatVsChristmasTree · 17/12/2020 10:40

Nurse, working in general practice so closed bank Holidays. Because my days are Mon, Thurs and Fri I was only down for 3 days over the 2 weeks anyway without taking any annual leave, though I was offered the choice to take some. I'm doing an extra evening of 2 hours on the 22nd though to catch up with flu vaccines for people who are working and can't make the day clinics.
I chose to take this week as annual leave instead, while DCs are off, so I cna get my prep done (wrap presents, precook some good etc). However, we've had staff in isolation so I'm actually doing a day and half at work, plus half a day of a course I'm on (zoom based).
Still feel I'm doing well compared to most nurses and we're in a pandemic! I'm still on standby in case we get covid vaccines and have said I'm happy to work whenever needed if we or others in the network need vaccine nurses.

BiBabbles · 17/12/2020 10:41

I know it's not unusual in some industries, but I don't know anyone who has 2 weeks off. Most I know are busier at this time of year rather than work getting quieter. My spouse & I work more so others can have time off, taking a couple days off at New Year's.

Littleideasbigbook · 17/12/2020 10:44

I am working up to Christmas Eve (researcher in NHS) then have the following week off. Totally miffed off though, because DP (also NHS) booked the same amount of time off (we really need to spend some time with each other to decide re our relationship as things have been very, very rough and work has almost ruined our relationship this year, amongst other things) but has now been called in due to Covid vaccination hub. So looks like it is just me and my DC for Christmas (again).

BiddyPop · 17/12/2020 10:47

I try to keep leave for over Christmas. I work in an office where it gets very quiet and often we have been very busy in the run up to year end (I have been frantically finishing things on Christmas Eve more than once in the past).

If we don't go in on 24th, we need to take a whole day's leave. But if we go in, the offices are closed by 12:30 and it's a very relaxed morning wandering around with lots of DCs visiting, lots of Irish coffees or glasses of wine on offer in different rooms and people having a social time - and as it's city centre located, it can be handy to get any last bits done as well. (Really you only need to be there for an hour, or less, as long as someone sees you being present).

Our buildings are only closed on Bank Holidays, so we often have a rota to cover phones in different sections. But it suits some people to go in, either to work and have leave another time or to get filing and other things done in the peace and quiet (and get to sales in lunchbreaks for some people!).

Some years, I have taken a full 2 weeks, whereas others have only been the few public holidays. This year, I am taking a decent break as I need it.

ChronicallyCurious · 17/12/2020 11:09

I’m off from 23rd- 30th and that’s only because of where the weekend and bank holiday falls this year. It wouldn’t matter how many days holiday I saved over Christmas if I booked two weeks off the request would be rejected. I work in an office and the office only closes on weekends and bank holidays. I’ve never worked in a job where I could take two weeks off, in all previous jobs I’ve been in you were only allowed either Christmas Eve and Boxing Day off or NYE and NYD off (and maybe a few days around) but you had to work one or the other.

DP is in public services and they take it in goes and turns who gets actual Christmas Day off but he wouldn’t be allowed to book time off around Christmas at all.

tinselvestsparklepants · 17/12/2020 11:17

Academic here. We officially get time off from 18th - 4th but most of us will be working - getting writing done but without having to deal with emails or attend meetings. So like a half holiday, but management of course think we are fully "off."

Tricerapops · 17/12/2020 11:22

I work in a College (but not as a lecturer). I finish up today until the 6th of January and only use holidays for Monday/Tuesday next week.

Luckily in previous jobs (audit) it was always possible to take time at Xmas so this has always been my longest break of the year.

Smellybluecheese · 17/12/2020 11:34

I work in HE I'm off after tomorrow until the 11th. Two weeks we are closed (we got an extra 2 days this year), and then I'm taking a week off to myself once school has (hopefully) gone back. I cannot wait. I do know how lucky I am. I've always taken at least a week off though, even when I worked in the private sector.

Alaimo · 17/12/2020 11:38

Also an academic here. I will be working on the 21st, after that the out of office will go on and I will not be doing any work until the 4th. It's been a crazy semester and I need to recharge before the next one.

Hardbackwriter · 17/12/2020 11:40

Today would have been my last day of work before the 4th but I'm off work to look after a poorly toddler so said I'd work Monday (I don't work Fridays) instead Sad

Mia1415 · 17/12/2020 12:30

This year I'm off from the 23rd to the 4th. Due to covid I had lots of holiday to use up. I am working on 29th, but from home.

Graffitiqueen · 17/12/2020 12:32

This will be the first time ever I have had a full 2 weeks off at Christmas.

tashac89 · 17/12/2020 12:33

I work term time only anyway but this year is the first year in 10 my husband will be home over Christmas. Normally he works a minimum of Xmas eve (till midnight) and boxing day, 4 years he worked Christmas day. Our kids are so excited to have him home for a few days this year.

Gufo · 17/12/2020 12:35

It's a definite HE perk that I enjoy, but I appreciate it's rare!