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?

Solidarity! Enjoy your time off over Christmas, with your family 🎄

There’s something pretty magical about seeing young kids running in with their Santa presents. Not so much after they reach 10 or 11.
Now my kids are teens I’d happily go to work, but when younger I’d liked to have hung around for that start of the day - which is VERY early so I’m sure the parents in your role can do both.

I took my boss to HR once as he caved to the mums and agreed that Christmas holidays are only for parents. This wasn’t even Christmas Day, this was for the week between Christmas and New Year!!

He was a new, young manager and obviously quite scared of some of the domineering characters. Luckily HR told him to get a grip and do a draw out of a hat like every other team

You have done your fair share of working Christmas Day. Keep it off. You'll be working more in the furture I am sure.

This is going to come up more as Xmas gets closer. No, you're not swapping, you've done your turn.

Anyway, with so many asking, how to choose without causing emnity - impossible, so enjoy your Xmas at home.

And by the way, thank you for all the hard work you do...

It's been many years since I worked anywhere needing Xmas cover (although have been 'on call' a few times but never actually called). But it was always done almost blind, the people scheduling didn't know everyone's circumstances and didn't care. If you were scheduled to work and didn't want to then you either asked for leave, of which there was a limited amount, or arranged a swap. Anyone who wanted to work it would find the people scheduled and ask if they wanted a swap- it worked really well.

There is a disturbing entitlement in expecting parents to have priority with leave and OP is perfectly reasonable to say no and walk away. I had a conversation recently where someone asked for leave and was told to check with me in case I needed the same time off for dc, I was horrified and said absolutely book what you want! It's my own fault if I don't organise leave and my dc aren't anyone else's problem and I wouldn't expect anyone else to give a shit.

Christmas staffing needs to be done fairly. Alternate years, a lottery or seniority.

I worked at the same place for 20 years before I had children. I worked every single Christmas and didn't feel remotely guilty when I managed to get Christmas off once I had them.

Christmas is for families, not just children

i would not be swapping

Why are people so hellbent of resurrecting this arguement again?

Just say no, you have plans. It is nice for people to offer to cover for people who have young children as it is nice for the children to have family home on Christmas day (I covered christmas day when I did shifts with no kids). When I had kids, I offered to do boxing day and new year (long days) to get Christmas off so those who wanted to go out NYE could. Moved into an office job to get more family friendly hours in the end so i didnt have to worry about this.

It's not fecking rocket science. If you don't want to do it, say no, and stop throwing the word entitled around willy nilly. It has the reverse effect.

I would not swap. As pp have said, Christmas work rotas should allocate shifts fairly across the Christmas period of any year, and also across the past few years too.

My opinion is that anyone finding it ‘sucky’ to have to work Christmas simply because magic only lasts a few years shouldn’t take a job where it’s a requirement. Having to work on Christmas is sucky for many people, magic or not.

Don't worry about it OP, enjoy your Christmas day.

Good for you, aren’t you just so so privileged that you get to have that option.

YANBU. Just because your family aren't under 18 doesn't mean you don't have family who will miss you if you're not there on Christmas Day.

Jobs I've worked in the past have done shorter shifts on the day, so people either get a morning or an afternoon off if they have to work at all. I can see why people wouldn't want to be working 12 hour shifts on Christmas Day.

My mum always used to volunteer to do Christmas Eve night shift and then get home at 8am and just power through the day - with a little nap early afternoon when we were playing with toys and Dad was cooking the dinner.

This. Don't even slightly give them an opportunity to bully you into swapping.

Just a simple "No".

It's so bloody cheeky to ask someone to cover your Christmas shift because they don't have children. I'm grateful I don't work over the holidays but If I did I wouldn't expect to be prioritized for being off just because I have children. You have family too and you deserve it too.

Surely the same applies to people who aren't parents that want Christmas off then? Not sure what point you are making here.

I once worked somewhere where my colleague had Fridays off, 4 adult DC and 1 DC aged 9. Luckily we got Christmas and Easter about a week or two each off work but she’d try and make a fuss if you booked anything which crossed with half term or summer holidays (we both had 25 days holiday) so in the end we just got a temp to cover then if we were both off.

You worked last year so should have this Xmas off

Maybe they can start doing shorter shifts

Or an 8hr

So 12-8am - 8am to 4om and 4 to midnight on Xmas and nyd

So even if work can still have some time with family

Worked in NHS in role that covered bank holidays all my career, much of it being in the position to draft the rotas,always worked on the principle that pretty much everyone has family of some sort and deserve time off to be with them so shared it out , if people were happy to swap, fine but no one should be made to think they have to

It's not unreasonable of them to ask (but never to pressurise), and its perfectly reasonable for you to say no, without having to justify it. You don't need to give a reason. Say you have plans, if you want to.

Exactly why as a parent I would never take a job that is open Christmas Day!
They are entitled to ask you are absolutely entitled to refuse

As someone who has has children and has also previously worked for 111 for years YANBU!

When we work for places like the NHS it’s the risk we take unfortunately. We always know there’s going to be years we are going to miss Xmas day or New Year’s Eve etc. What used to piss me off what the complete unfairness of the rota, they used to have me working 8-8 24th to the 26th so I got no xmas at all and they would try it every year!

YANBU. You have JUST AS MUCH RIGHT to a family life as any of your colleagues.

@TheJubileePortrait actually, expecting the world to revolve around you & your kids is the selfish thing.