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?

Just say no.if you work.in this sector you know you will have to.work.some xma,s
When I wss a young nurse without children I didn't mind working Xmas if I had new year off but that was my choice

Why?

Should those without children work every christmas and not see their families?

This put it better than I did!

YANBU OP, not at all, you deserve a Christmas off as much as anyone else.

In my old Job I wasn't allowed two weeks off in the summer holidays as I didn't have kids, the hols were split between the three colleagues with kids even though I had got my holiday form in before a couple of them - I was planning a big trip with my best friend and she is a teacher. It was a huge factor in deciding to leave. It was always the same with the Easter hols too

Congrats on getting the day off this year! Definitely don’t swap with someone who has children.

These threads always make me eternally grateful that I’m in a job where everyone stops work by around December 20th and doesn’t resurface until January 2nd!

Some of my fondest memories of Christmas are as a young adult, finishing work and gathering with my extended family. Stick to your guns OP!

Misspositivepants
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I think it’s difficult one. People can ask but there is a way of asking I guess.

No it isn’t. Asking is one hell of a cheek, it puts unnecessary stress and pressure on a colleague, however “nicely” you ask. If colleagues aren’t bothered, they’ll make it known that they’re ok with swapping rotas.

My last Christmas working shifts in wards before I left I had a lovely younger colleague with no children volunteer to do my Christmas eve Nightshift so I could be home with my children in exchange for me working her NYE night so she could go out with friends.
It worked out nicely for both of us and I could have kissed her when she offered but I would never have dreamed of asking her first because she had as much right as me to that time, I was just fortunate that she wasn't bothered.
YANBU to take your day off and enjoy Christmas with your family.
It sucks being a parent working doing shifts at that time of year but it's part of the job and can't be a surprise to them that they need to take a turn. It's one among many reasons that I got out of acute care soon after my children were born.

Bullshit. Why should childfree people have to make sacrifices for other people's life choices? Stick to your guns OP, tell them to fuck off.

Very entitled, also you’d only be upsetting a lot of people if you chose to give one of the other people with children the day off. No one knows your situation and as I get older I really do think having children is a true privilege so it’s not a fair reasoning or rather excuse for anyone thinking having Christmas Day off is more for those who have children…

There will eventually be a successful tribunal case on discrimination of childfree or childless (with the latter having a good chance actually). And parents like this will absolutely be the reason

Say no and keep saying no, our Rota was written in stone and barring real life or death family emergencies could not be changed.
You deserve a Christmas Day off as much as anyone else.

No harm in people sending a group message to everyone (regardless of kids/no kids) asking if willing to swap shifts as someone may actually want to swap.

What is not on it targeting individuals and trying to guilt them into swapping

I’m a single parent and so I cannot work Christmas.

Therefore, I do not have a job that requires me to work Christmas.

It massively narrows my potential places to work but it’s the one day of the year that I won’t leave my child alone and I doubt I’d be able to get childcare anyway.

I think it’s fine for anyone to send an all staff message, asking if anyone wants to swap and they’ll be happy to cover a shift or 2 of theirs in return.

But it would really annoy me if people felt they were entitled to have it off just because they have kids.

This is Bullshit I have worked Xmas days with and without children
As a young nurse I preferred new year off so.would happily work Xmas ,but that wss my choice
Should people without children never have Xmas off?

I work a job that involves working Christmas. I have young children. I would never dream of asking someone to swap with me. I accepted it as part and parcel of the job. If I couldn't live with it I would work a 9-5 instead!

No you are definitely not BU! Tell them to sod off.

It is a bit sad to not be able to spend Christmas with your kids if they are young, adults not so much

asking me to cover their shifts since 'I have no children'.

I would just respond with 'thanks for reminding me of my involuntary childlessness. Happy Christmas'.

To be honest I think Christmas day is just another day of the year and Christmas is primarily about children because that's the age that it's exciting and I wouldn't hesitate to offer to work Christmas day so those with kids can have it off, then I'd just go and see my own family on boxing day.

Then don’t get a job requiring Christmas working

Its also a bit sad never to.have a Xmas off. Just because you don't have children.

I'd say it depends on whether the people asking are being rude when you say no/expecting you to say yes. Otherwise there's no harm in them asking, a lot of people at my work actually volunteer to work the day as they get overtime 🤷🏼‍♀️

I couldn’t disagree more.

Why should someone have to give me priority just because I’ve chosen to have children? I have 6 kids so even just giving priority when young would mean I got priority for a lot of years.

And why does someone who makes a choice to have children deserve priority over someone who can’t have children? Or can’t afford children? Or who lives hundreds of miles from their family so needs time to travel?

Other people shouldn’t have to prioritise someone else’s life choices.

Do.you do.a job requiring you to.work.xmas?