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?

Neither your manager nor your colleague are psychic (maybe they are?), they wouldn’t assume that you wanted the day off unless you tell them.

Well you’ve learnt the hard way not to assume anything
just get what you want booked off next year

Only if it fits into the hours /
time you have available if not; it’s not your problem
just advise your manager accordingly

She's full time? And you are part time

I think you should raise this with your manager to be honest.

Is there just the 2 of you? With a different line manager each?

Why didn't you book it early if it's so important to you OP?

First come first served, fair or not, is clearly the system used in your job. If this is a problem then it’s management you need to take it up with. No, she didn’t need to check with you before she booked time off.

I'm sorry but it's not your managers or colleagues Job to check with you what days you want off. You're a grown up. Book it off if you want it off

It's December! If you want Christmas off in this kind of place, book in January.

There should be a system but there isn't. So get in there first.

I’m my workplace if you are bothered to have Christmas off you book it when the holiday diary opens. Yes your manager should be managing annual leave, but if you hadn’t put in the request how are they supposed to know that you wanted it off?

it’s hardly like the date was a surprise. Your manager isn’t going to hold off approving someone’s leave request for a few months until you get your backside into gear.

and you do think your children are relevant l, otherwise you wouldn’t have bought them (and your colleagues lack of children up)

Nobody has to run it by you. You should have requested the day off at the earliest possible opportunity - it’s your responsibility to manage your annual leave.

As for people suggesting that her manager should have offered it to you first, that’s nonsense. You hadn’t asked for it so they probably assumed you didn’t need it.

A few years ago I requested a specific week off (the only week DH and I could take off together for the whole year, and I asked months in advance) and my then-manager told me that she’d have to let me know because she wanted to see when it would be cheapest for her to go on holiday, so she might want my week then she said maybe my other colleague would want that week as she hadn’t booked anything either. I was furious; I wanted a specific week, I followed the procedure to request it - why should someone else be offered it over me if they hadn’t even asked??

Seems reasonable. I'm guessing you'll have first refusal on next Christmas.

Complain about it.

Talk to your manager and ask if annual leave over holiday periods can be managed so everyone gets a turn from now on.

If you have different line managers I don't understand why you can't both be on leave?
And the arrogance that you think she has to speak with you before she booked leave! I'd you're part time you're obviously still going to get school holidays time with the kids?

This is what my team does as well. Management start asking for requests in September so they can get in sorted in plenty of time.

Yes it’s unifier to have it off every year

equally why didn’t you book it off if wanted it off

what do you have to work @SulkySam

assume only had to book off 28 39 30 due to bank hols

Why didn’t you book those 3 days off month back

Give parents the bloody time with them, you old hags!

I always gave the parents Christmas before I had kids.

That attitude though, I'd have asked for Christmas off just for the sake of it.

Let kids enjoy the magic of childhood and Christmas. Give parents the bloody time with them, you old hags!

I’d put someone who had this attitude on a split shift on Christmas Day…

Find out date new leave calendar is open and get in first next year. It is quite normal he/she who books first gets as day off.

I’ve worked in ten different organisations and they were all “first come first served” for booking holiday, none of them enforced/encouraged alternating. So honestly I think your expectations are off here.
still, now you know how this company does things. So just make sure you book early next year.

For this year she mentioned in conversation she’d booked it off, told me it had been approved as if it was fait accompli.

Yes... because it is! She's booked it off. Why didn't you?