Christmas Leave 'I have kids'

[paintityellow]

Yes I know this comes up every year, but it's so bloody annoying. The Christmas leave list went around in September, with it being specified that priority for Christmas Day would be given to people who worked it last year.
Despite this we now have a couple of people really trying to pressure others to give up Christmas Day because 'I have kids'. One of these women has had the last 3 Christmas Days off, the other's kids are teenagers. One of the people they're trying to pressure wants to fly home to spend Christmas day with her parents, Another has no family in the area so also wants to travel home for Christmas. Both worked last year.
AIBU to find this attitude infuriating?

That's fine for you to think like that and have those priorities. But your children are not your colleagues' problem nor their priority.

Hospitality is a big one.

what child/parent hating population?

It highlight the sense of entitlement of some people, who believe that rules shouldn't apply to them. Most posters agree that the only fair way is to take turn.

Stating that having kids does not give you any priority is not hating parents, I am a parent.

I would like to ask those who believe that parents of appropriately aged children should be prioritised, how many consecutive years of Christmas leave does a child entitle you to?

If she has young kids and her partner has been asked to work then there is a high chance she will call in sick. I think it would be easier if someone did swap with her.

This. Young kids are not going to care if Christmas celebrations are held early or late anyway. Christmas is not just for kids!

This.

“All this post has done for me is highlight the massive child/parent hating population loitering on MN. Oh the irony (I know MN is for everyone) 🙄”

where is the child hating? Many parents on this thread are in agreement that some people are entitled to expect Christmas just because they have children. Most complaints have been targeted at entitled parents not innocent children.

Where is the parent hating? Myself and others have pointed out most parents are not selfish and entitled and it’s only entitled parents we have a problem with. I do believe these are in the minority hence thankfully it’s been a relative few posters on this thread who are showing no consideration or compassion for those who are single /childless and not wanting to work on Christmas .

I genuinely believe most parents are not self centred, lacking in empathy and narrow minded. My issue is with the ones who are.

This isn’t parents vs childfree at all, so people shouldn’t try to turn it into that.

Those of us who work with animals. They still need looking after too!

I used to offer to work Xmas eve and New Year’s Eve nights when mine were small…then just stay awake all Christmas Day…..and go to bed when the kids did …..everyone’s Christmas is important, family or no family…..I got a Monday to Friday job in the end cos I didn’t want to work bank hols anymore…..but completely got that I had to do my share ….kids or no kids

That's where it originated but that hasn't been the main celebration of Christmas in the UK for decades. Catch up

No it isn't.

I'm on my own now, so I don't have any family to accommodate. I didn't have to work over Christmas, but there were issues with parents getting accommodations at work which weren't available to carers.

In my case, at one time I was working full time and caring for three adults in two separate households. It wasn't easy.

Swings and roundabouts, I guess. The main difference is that things often get easier for those with children, provided that there are no disabilities and the parents concerned aren't 'sandwiched' by caring for older adults.

I can see why Drs, nurses, carers, emergency services are needed on Christmas Day. Not sure who else should have to work. Out of interest, apart from essential medical/care/emergency services, what kind of jobs do other people do who have to work on Christmas Day?

Off the top of my head, people who work in:

Pubs
Hotels
Restaurants
Petrol stations
Some corner shops
Air traffic control
Airports
Roadside recovery
Highways
Journalism
Some pharmacies
Farms/zoos
Animal charities

Lots of engineers do - catering engineers van be busy but also people want their telephones and television shows etc working on Christmas day so if the engineers aren't solidly working they are at least on call and a reasonable number will be called out

Then there are all the taxi drivers and the hospitality industry etc

That's where it originated but that hasn't been the main celebration of Christmas in the UK for decades. Catch up

So what. Christmas is more important to devote Christians than it is for people celebrating a fat man in a suit.

An aside, neither of us drove. One christmas, we were just off the bus to visit my mum on the other side of the country. In the taxi from the bus station to mum's house, we heard that FIL had a massive heart attack. My h got right back on the bus that night FIL never woke up RIP.

I don’t see the argument with young children (unless it’s a single parent with no childcare). Just move “Christmas” a few days to another more convenient time, they won’t realise! We do this on years my OH works Christmas and it’s just as special for them.

Television. Aside from the fact that there is news on Christmas Day, someone has to make sure that all the Christmas TV specials and films make it to air!

Absolutely-the school holidays needs to be split fairly between those that want them off.

If my DH can’t get any of those off because we don’t have school-ages children, then we’ll never be able to go on holiday together!

Eternity, apparently, if a certain co-worker of mine is anything to go by. While we don't have to work Christmas day, she seems to want the week off, no matter whether she is supposed to be on call or not. Two years ago I decided I would no longer be the default on call person for Christmas. She still hasn't forgiven me for refusing to worship at the altar of her uterus.

I think a system where those who worked last Christmas have priority but then allowing swaps is fair. That way if you know a colleague needs the day you can swap. I don't need the day as I have a teen who can choose to go to family or not, or we can just visit family or celebrate on a different day from solstice to new year, it doesn't matter.

Obviously yanbu!! Parents need to share Christmas leave fairly with their colleagues.

We should fight to not be treated differently because we have kids,
or because we are female

Not fight because we want to be treated differently because we are female and/or have children!

Who on earth wants to go backward!

Architect here, so obviously I don’t. We don’t work between Christmas and new year.
Restaurants open to feed people that don’t want to cook.

Did you mean to reply to me? I don't think any of that is relevant to your use of language when describing a child.