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?

Yea. Fuck adults. Why should they have time off to enjoy with their families!

There are already laws about caring for someone who.is,disabled and working and you have a right to.ask.for permanent adjustments to the Rota (the management would have to look at your request and judge wether they can accommodate that ) but this isn't really what this thread about and often parents of disabled children are unable to.work.anyway due to caring responsibility, as im.well aware being a parent of a disabled child.

There are no children at all in my family. Should we all work every Christmas then?

TheJubileePortrait · Today 11:48
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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”

What complete nonsense! How the hell do you justify such a ridiculous statement? Having children is a choice. You realise when you make that choice that sometimes you have to make compromises. Why should colleagues support your choice?

You’ve worked your fair share and now it’s your turn to have the day off. I wouldn’t feel guilty about saying no to them.
They can ask but don’t feel bad, you need to spend time with your family too.

Personally, I think regular church going Christians should get priority as its a religious holiday.

(I'm athiest)

Why? Parents with kids are not more important than anyone else.

And as others have said, we are other people's children. Do you really think older parents should never get the chance to see their adult kids for Christmas?

OP I don't think the rota should be public, they should just tell people what days they are due to work. But all you have to do is say no, you have plans for Christmas Day.

"I'll be away visiting family, I can't swap"

This really bloody annoys me (and I have no skin in the game - no kids but work is closed for Christmas). All this utter bullshit "Christmas is for kids", "Sure you're an adult, you can meet up with your family another day" etc etc.

Christmas is for everyone who wants to celebrate it. I love the build up - the music in the shops, Christmas movies/TV, the decorations, stocking up with nice food, even shopping for presents. DH and I have breakfast in bed, with bucks fizz, and open our presents - who gives a fuck that we're in our 50s, we get enjoyment from it. Then we spend time with each of our families, lots of people coming together just for the one day

As for just doing the dinner / festivities on another day - this is my second Christmas since we lost my dad. The thought of not spending Christmas Day with my mum would be heartbreaking for me. I know I sound old saying this but, seriously, children are important but the entire world doesn't revolve around them (or those who have them).

A firm “I have plans with family. I worked Xmas last year so I will be taking my day this year.” Say it once then refuse to discuss further.

Since you have an "influx" of colleagues asking you to give up your day for them, ask them to submit their best financial offer - how much is it worth to them? Once you have the figures you can weigh up whether it's worth it to you. I wouldn't swap with them for free but offer me £10,000 and I'd seriously consider giving up my Xmas day for them.

No doubt they'd be aghast if you did this, and that's the reason you shouldn't give in. Because to them the inconvenience to you is worthless.

Alternatively you could just tell the kids that Santa will.be coming on the 27th or whatever as ,as you say its just a date
Do.you have a job requiring you to work xmas?

While I agree with this I think involving the children in the mix is a low blow

@80sMum actually. To be pedantic, Christmas is not actually for or about children. It's a Christian festival. Many adults want to celebrate that religious festival on the day allocated to it. Not the weekend before or after. And with your logic, anyone with kids that has to work Christmas Day can 'celebrate' the weekend after. While their kids are still on school holiday.

What’s it worth to them? Could be lucrative? 😉

YANBU. If people want every Christmas off, they should choose a job which facilitates this. Otherwise, it's taking turns.

The only caveat is that I'd have more sympathy with a single parent of young children whose childcare had fallen through (recent split, family suddenly not available etc.), since it's almost impossible to get paid for childcare at an affordable price for Christmas day.

You are as entitled as anyone else to enjoy Christmas Day with your family, OP. I think a rota system is the fairest way of dealing with these scenarios, so hopefully that is something that is being dealt with by management where you are.

Well that's just rubbish.

Child free/childless people have just as worthwhile time at Christmas as parents with young children.

Even if that just is sitting on their arse, watching TV and eating mince pies - that is just as worthwhile and as important as anybody else's Christmas day.

If you were happy to exchange your Christmas, then good for you.

Grey rock!

Congratulations on not having to working Xmas day this year!

'No, I won't be able to cover your shift.' is a sufficient answer - you don't owe them an explanation of any kind! Enjoy your time off, whatever you end up doing.

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

There wouldn't be so many single parents if many women chose their mating partners more carefully (given by MN threads on the subject). If the father is so useless that he won't look after his own child in Christmas Day, they have plenty of other options to find other people to look after their kids (and if they are widowed I dare say their colleagues will be more willing to help out, and the same for people with caring responsibilities for disabled or elderly people). As opposed to the entitlement that I chose to breed with a useless oaf so I am more entitled to have Christmas Day off.

It is still possible to make Christmas special, even if you have to work some or most of it. You compensate on other days. If you are unable to think of other ways of celebrating Christmas with your kids, then that is down to your lack of imagination.

When my kids were young, I sometimes had to work Christmas as I work in the NHS. I wouldn’t have asked a childless person in a million years to do my shift.

Everybody is entitled to a day off. Even if they do nothing at Christmas and just want to sit at home on their own watching TV. I cannot bear the parental sense of entitlement.

Are they entitled to ask to swap though? If she wanted to swap she'd offer (to a person of her choosing).

But that's your opinion and shouldn't be imposed on others.

It may be that Christmas has always been a magical time for that family. It may be that they lost someone that year and it's their first milestone day without that person. It may be that it's the only time of the year that everyone in the family gets together.

Whatever the reason, it's important to the OP and should be respected.

Some people with children are like bad dog owners.
Bloody entitled and think the world revolves around them.

Having a child doesn't make you an extra special human who deserves extra special privileges.

Also, not all people are childfree by choice.
Someone who struggled for years to have a baby and couldn't is then penalised for it?

Some of the posters on here need some compassion and to be knocked down a peg or two