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?

It doesn't matter if your plan is to spend the day alone with a book - you don't have to justify yourself to anyone. So what if they have children? They are fully aware they work for a 25/7 service, that's the deal.

Just say "I worked last year" and look at them.

Alternatively say "fuck the fuck off".

So if I’m infertile my punishment for selfishly not producing a child is to work every Christmas until I’m old and retire, and never see my own parents on holidays, to allow people with children to have every Christmas off?

You may not have kids but you do have family. It is your right to have the day off since you've worked it previous years. I get that it sucks to have to work Christmas if you have kids, but it also sucks to work Christmas when you don't have kids. People who want to work term time only should get jobs that allow for that.

They shouldn't have to no but I do think for example single parents or those that have caring responsibilities for the elderly or disabled should be given priority as childcare/respite services aren't open Christmas day.

It's not about want in such cases, it's need. It's not like you can leave a toddler or severely disabled person home alone.

It's also no good people saying they should have thought of that before - circumstances can change in an instant.

Do you get paid more for Xmas?

if yes suggest they spend the extra earnings on a naice gift for their kids and you’re happy for them.

Honestly I think it's ok for them to ask and ok for you to say no.

My dad sometimes had to work Christmas day but a few times over the years he managed to swap his shifts with child-free people who would rather work Christmas day and have new years eve off. So sometimes it can be worth asking.

My father was in the Merchant Navy in the 60s when we were young. I can recall ONE Christmas with him there - if he wasn't we visited DGPs and were surrounded with family. I don't recall us being 'sad' nor are we noticeable scarred by him not being there.

As for While you do have a right to the day off I do think it’s selfish and parents with young children should be given priority - why is childfree people wanting Christmas off selfish but parents wanting priority isn't?

Yanbu, it's it's first Xmas off 9 years this year because of how the schedule has fallen. Despite this I still get the same questions. It is SO rude and selfish, especially when my colleague was asked the same question and little does the entitled dosser who asked her know she's just had a miscarriage. People are thick and insensitive though and seem to think having children makes them special compared to everyone else at Christmas.

Never excuse , never explain
Just say no , I’m unable to swap

Keep your Christmas Day off and don't get into a debate about your plans. Just say 'No, that's not going to work for me' and refuse to get into why. I hate it will posters demand that others be 'selfless' and prioritise one group over another. Bollocks to that - everyone deserves a fair rota, and to do their fair share of the crap as well. There will always be people with small children in a company, you can't decide that their holidays/family etc are more important than everyone else. Some people would never get Xmas off with that logic and that's not fair and they shouldn't have to sacrifice their family time/holidays for others.

I had a colleague who once said when we were off late but I have children that need me they were 18 yrs old. I was off late too plus an hours + commute.

I disagree! I think Christmas, in its current incarnation, is just for kids!

It's just a date. Would it really make any difference to adults whether they arrange to meet up and have a lovely family meal together on the 25th of December or on the following weekend - or on any other date when they're all available?

For adults, what's so special about it being on that one specific date? It's not as if they're all expecting Father Christmas to show up!

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

I used to in my early 20s. I used to opt to do Xmas eve and Christmas day in exchange for having new year off and then the people with kids could have Xmas eve and Christmas day.

If I didn't have children now I doubt id be doing anything at home on Christmas day that is more worthwhile then a parent spending Christmas with young children. Honestly I don't understand why this day is even vaguely important unless you are highly religious or you have young kids. Just sit in front of the telly and eat mince pies the day after?

Exactly, even if unintentional it’s very self centred and unreasonable!

This really annoys me.

I've worked in teams where I'm the only one with a child and I've done my fair share of cover over Christmas and New Year. I have friends who work for the NHS and regularly work Christmas or New Year despite having children.

I used to get this over the summer as well and every public holiday week. It's like your time isn't as valuable as theirs because they chose to have DC.

It's your turn on the rota so that's it! Don't you dare give this day up!

@80sMum, for some people Christmas is about kids; for others, perhaps those with elderly family members, Christmas is less about Santa and more about Carols, Mass & family being together.
Both versions are fine in the UK today

What about adults who have family/friends who they need time to travel to?

And there are people on here saying they had parens who worked Xmas and had their special day on another day, without having been permanently scarred by it.

For adults, what's so special about it being on that one specific date? It's not as if they're all expecting Father Christmas to show up!

If anyone was wondering why CF people feel like they're second class citizens, the attitude above makes it clear. Don't have kids aka family) (the only definition of family that counts) you don't matter. No matter if you want to see YOUR family, you don't have kidzzzzz so suck it up.

Well you could argue the same for kids too. Especially younger children don't know how to read a calendar yet so there's nothing stopping them to arrange their Christmas on a day that everyone is available.

Just say no. You don't owe them an explanation or any justification.

Christmas is for people of all ages.

I've always found this to be a long standing problem in the NHS/healthcare roles. Unfortunately I have to work shifts, so Daddy gets to do the fun stuff more often. I do still get the occasional 'mine is only little where as you're are teens and don't need you there' crap. It's worse when the same CF's expect to have all the school holidays off as well. My colleague has the whole 6 weeks off and as it's only the two of us in the same position I'm not allowed any time off during the summer or any school holiday time.

Hahaha good joke.

For me spending Christmas with my family is about having quality time with them with or without children. I don’t need to use children to justify why something is more important. I also don’t agree in making everything in life fixated around children either it doesn’t help anyone, especially children as they then have to deal with this crap when they grow up!

If that's how you imagine all people with kids do Christmas than it's understandable you think it's unimportant🤷

Why stop at Chris. Why not do New year's eve on 3rd so one can cover for someone else.

It's totally reasonable to want Christmas off once every 2 years

I like this 😄