To think colleague should have asked if I wanted Christmas off before she booked it off?

[SulkySam]

AIBU to be a bit pissed off colleague booked this Christmas off when she had last Christmas off too? Isn’t it the polite thing to alternate having it off.

I started in role in September last year and she’d already booked off for last year before I started. Absolutely fine.

For this year she mentioned in conversation she’d booked it off, told me it had been approved as if it was fait accompli. No discussion and as it had already been approved there wasn’t much I could say! Quite pissed off manager just approved it as well.

Obviously I’ve know for a few months now but it is still making me seethe! She is an older lady, no DC while I have 5 DC including two disabled children.

Of course that doesn’t mean I have priority over her having time off for Christmas (just to make that clear before someone jumps on it) but isn’t it usual etiquette to take turns?

Nope. He bullied the whole company into stopping doing anything festive. He shames people for sending cards and buying presents. He is the one who petitioned for us to not close between Christmas and New year and said we should all be at work. So he was actively trying to stop any of us having that time off because of his views.

Shame on you for throwing out insults without being fully informed.

That's really shit of them.

It's not an issue in my team, we don't work bank holidays and our manager is working between Christmas and New Year and will deal with anything urgent that crops up. On my previous team, those who didn't have the last Christmas off got first dibs at leave for the next one.

There was a suggestion that those with school age kids got priority for leave in school holidays, but there were 3 in the team with partners working in schools, so that was done on the alternating years principle too.

Much fairer, imo.

He sounds like a real joy to work with. He probably makes his children vomit if they manage to eat a mouthful of Christmas pudding behind his back like the father in ‘Oscar and Lucinda’

He sounds like a real joy to work with. He probably makes his children vomit if they manage to eat a mouthful of Christmas pudding behind his back like the father in ‘Oscar and Lucinda’

Except this just sounds like a fake Mumsnet story where non of the abovd happened.

Killjoy!

No you don't, unless it's a workplace when everyone rushes to book Christmas Day off in the same two minutes.

Of course it makes a difference that you have five children and she has none. When my kids were young it was lovely having time with them at Christmas. Now they’re older I wouldn’t dream of hogging Christmas from parents

What about your own parents?

Alas, tis not.

But believe what you will.

I think that is a little unfair of her. My mum works in an office with all younger women with children and they all sit down and chat about who's having what time off etc and mum always accommodates them first.

That being said, if you're still fairly new in post, she may have had Xmas off each year and have special plans that she may not want to give up herself.

It's a tough one but get in early next year!

He makes such a huge song and dance about how awful Christmas is. He doesn't agree with any part of it at all and refuses to let any Christmas come near our office so no music, no decs, no secret Santa, no Christmas meal/party etc. If he overhears anyone talking about what they're buying their kids or attending a nativity play or anything he launches into rants about it and tries to shame people for taking part.

What a total arse he must be to work with. What a nasty joy-sucker.

He may have deep personal reasons for hating Christmas but he has NO right to insist his attitude dominates the workplace and his colleagues.

He’s a bully, basically.