Working on christmas day, the entitlement of others

[Mysticcatmum]

I have a job in a 111 NHS call centre, the office is open 24hrs 7 days a week. I have just been given my Christmas rota and to my delight I have been given off Xmas day (which I have worked previous years).

Now I have had an influx of colleagues who have children, asking me to cover their shifts since 'I have no children'.

So, my question is, AIBU for thinking that I do not (apprantly) deserve to have a christmas off with my family (who have had a rough year) all for the sake of those who have children, who have been off previous years?

YANBU. Christmas is not just for kids, you are 100% entitled to have Christmas Day off.

Stay strong. There are quite a few posters here dealing with it.

You are as deserving as anyone else.
Especially as you worked it last year. It's only fair

In my mind (I have children) it's only fair that you have to work some Christmas's regardless if you have children or not. You are due a Christmas off and these other people have had their Christmas off when you were working. You shouldn't be made to feel bad for having a Christmas off just because you don't have children. I would say no to be honest!

You are entitled to the day off.

They are entitled to ask you to swap.

You are entitled to say fuck off no.

My answer to this one used to be "I may have no children but I am someone's child".
Enjoy your day off OP.

You have as much right as anybody else to have Christmas day off.

Yanbu op

im a nurse with a 7 year old ds and am working Christmas Eve night, he’ll be at his dads until Christmas Day afternoon whilst I sleep and we’re just going to have a buffet afternoon with rubbish tv and I’ll do proper Christmas Day with roast dinner on Boxing Day.

im very much of the opinion that working in our sector you know it involves Christmas work so surely those with kids have foreseen years that they will unfortunately be working Christmas Day!

This is what I say.

Tho I have step daughters so have used them as a - legitimate IMO - reason too.

Just say no, you can't, end of story. Don't explain, don't justify.

Given that you mention an "influx of colleagues" how on earth can they expect you to choose even if you wanted to?

That's actually really good excuse 😂
"I can't pick between you lovelies so I will be fair and keep the day off" 😂

'Nope! Despite having no children, I am entitled to days off at Christmas, like everyone else'.'

Don't back down, you deserve Christmas off. People know it's a rota system. They weren't worrying about you working last year..

This is brilliant!! Very poignant actually.

That's why a rota has been done, it's none of their business.

Having children doesn't give you entitlement to every celebration.

YANBU.

My dad worked just about every Christmas Day when we were growing up and Easter and all BH. Money was tight and he couldn't afford to turn down the premiums paid for those shifts.

we didn't miss out at all. We'd have a chilled day when he was working (watching Disneytime on tv and reading library books back in those pre video and tablet days, maybe with a selection box or Easter Egg which to us sugar starved children of the sixties was a massive treat) and our proper celebrations would be held either that evening or on his next day off.

we actually felt a bit smug about it sometimes because for all our friends the fun would be over and ours was only just beginning.

Yanbu anyone choosing to do that job would know that working Christmas is a good possibility

YANBU.

I suspect a lot of the posters that come on various threads saying, "Christmas is for children, of course parents should get priority," will be singing a very different tune once their children are adults and can't get time off to be with them because "they don't have children".

It's been years since I actually had to work Christmas, but in my current job, we work abroad away from family (as does everyone) and only have the 25th off as standard - me and another worked six Christmas's in a row because "we didn't have children" so couldn't see our families at Christmas for six years running.

Stand firm!

My child free friend is a 111 call handler and she gets this too. She tells them she needs to be off or her elderly mother will be on her own, and who knows how many Christmas’s she has left. Just as valid as Christmas with kids.

By an influx how many have actually asked? I ask because I’m a nurse and wouldn’t ask but I no longer work Christmases now so maybe I’m out of touch.

You're entitled to Christmas off. I had a parent who was an emergency service worker who purposely worked Christmas day because of the extra pay. We made our own Christmas traditions around it and didn't mind them working, I suspect most people did the same.

Presumably you still have family you'd like to see?

Alternatively, those without children may be volunteering at a shelter or similar to serve a Christmas lunch to those who are homeless or alone.

Christmas isn't all about children.

It should be done fairly and if you've previously worked it then it's your turn to have it off.

YANBU OP but MUMSNET people ABU! Where is my annual entertainment of the row that follows someone saying Christmas is only for children and you are selfish and an arsehole?

I hate being asked this. Not only is it the question- but the implication that your family is somewhat lesser.