Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

I've booked the trip of a lifetime

253 replies

soundsintheair · 12/10/2024 16:34

DH & I have been looking for ages and after a few drinks we have booked to go on a holiday of a lifetime, however I need to tell my manager next week. I will need 3 weeks off including over Christmas /NY

I work for a smallish team and we have to split the leave between us as we can't all be off at the same time, so it will mean that some of their Christmas plans will be affected if they were hoping to have time off. I know he might tell me I can't have it off in which case I would leave my job.

I feel awkward about it but also I've just got to that point where I just want to do what makes me happy. Aibu?

OP posts:
Lemonadeand · 12/10/2024 17:04

Does Christmas leave not all get decided together? Do people not try to book it in as soon as the window opens?

SeatonCarew · 12/10/2024 17:10

YABVVU. #Teamcolleagues.

Yellow2024 · 12/10/2024 17:13

But you could go to Mexico when ever you liked so to do it over Christmas is very shitty of you.

No chance you'll get 3 weeks annual leave and especially not over Christmas.

Good luck with the job hunt and dealing with the cold shoulder from colleagues.

EmeraldRoulette · 12/10/2024 17:14

harvestdesigns · 12/10/2024 16:50

YABU, this is really nasty to book it this close to Christmas knowing it affects your colleagues christmas plans.

But if OP left and started a new job in December that would be the same

also OP says they “might” want time off. If they haven’t booked it already, they might not, especially as it seems they are paid extra.

Doyouthinktheyknow · 12/10/2024 17:16

Lovely that you have a nice holiday to look forward to but in most areas of work, you would be very lucky to get 3 weeks agreed over Christmas and New Year in October!

I guess you are fortunate you can resign, think it’s very likely you would need to!

In my team, Christmas roster is done and annual leave is not agreed over Christmas except in extenuating circumstances.

Turnups · 12/10/2024 17:17

You know YABU. How would you have liked it if one if your colleagues had done the same last week so her holiday plans took precedence over yours?

You've booked the holiday and said you’re willing to leave the job so I don’t really understand why you’re posting. To make you feel better about shafting your colleagues?

ilovelamp82 · 12/10/2024 17:23

Oh enjoy your trip. You only live once. You'll likely lose your job but you know that. They have a couple of months to get your replacement sorted before Christmas. Enjoy your holiday.

MILLYmo0se · 12/10/2024 17:23

So when is the Christmas rota/leave over Christmas usually decided? If it has to be shared how by now has it not all been allocated out already? If people need to be home for childcare or travelling for family have they not already applied for their leave?

KimberleyClark · 12/10/2024 17:25

TeabagOut · 12/10/2024 17:02

Weird not to be able to control yourself and book a holiday when a bit drunk! Do you normally do impulsive stuff like this?

We have done it, but we are retired so booking time off work doesn’t come into it.

Henleylady · 12/10/2024 17:26

If its a Tui AI Mexican Riveria (Cancun, Tulum etc) type holiday ( not knocking it as I've done this and really enjoyed it) two weeks is more than enough. If more of a independent traveller adventure I can see why 3 weeks would be good.

Just a word of advise if the former - most people don't class this in the holiday of a lifetime bracket (often these holidays are cheaper than a European AI) so I wouldn't use it at work as the rationale for needing 3 weeks - it's not a reasonable justification in most people's eyes.

TizerorFizz · 12/10/2024 17:27

Holiday of a lifetime and Mexico don’t sit in the same sentence for me. Is it just Sun, sea and tequila?

Moier · 12/10/2024 17:28

I did this in 1978 age 20.
Couldn't get time off for trip of a life time to America.
So left.. ended up staying and working in America for 2 years. Traveled to 26 states.
Good luck and enjoy your holiday.

coffeesaveslives · 12/10/2024 17:28

Meh, I can't get worked up about this tbh - it's just a job, there'll always be another.

RowdyTiel · 12/10/2024 17:30

There's no way they'll approve that over Xmas.

I think you'll need to hand in your notice.

TeaMistress · 12/10/2024 17:30

Let me get this right. You've booked a three week holiday over Christmas but you haven't requested leave yet. I would be rejecting your request if I were your employer. Very inconsiderate of you in respect of your colleagues. I am assuming they would need to cover for you? All well and good if your employer and colleagues can be very flexible but I am guessing this probably isn't the case, particularly over Christmas.

OrdsallChord · 12/10/2024 17:32

MILLYmo0se · 12/10/2024 17:23

So when is the Christmas rota/leave over Christmas usually decided? If it has to be shared how by now has it not all been allocated out already? If people need to be home for childcare or travelling for family have they not already applied for their leave?

Good question. They surely must sometimes have people who leave between mid October and Christmas as well?

LetsSeeHowFarWeveCome · 12/10/2024 17:33

HundredMilesAnHour · 12/10/2024 16:44

I think it's a bit nasty of you to announce this so close to Christmas knowing that you're going to screw some of your colleagues over. Does that not bother you or you don't like them so you don't care?

If you've been looking for ages, I don't see why you couldn't have planned something with more notice then no-one else would have been impacted by your decision.

That's actually the only part of this whole thing I disagree with.

OP doesn't owe her employer or her co-workers that level of commitment. She is free to leave her role at any time for any reason.

coffeesaveslives · 12/10/2024 17:38

MN is really odd when it comes to employers - either you have to be loyal to the bitter end (no matter the impact on your personal life) or you can replaced tomorrow so who cares?

It seems to be luck of the draw as to what kind of response you'll get first and which way your thread will go.

Mochaccino99 · 12/10/2024 17:39

Exciting! Good for you OP, it'll probably be fine with your work and if not, you know the risks and it's worth it to you. What's your holiday plan? I love Mexico, where are you off to?

viques · 12/10/2024 17:40

Re the job. I think I would jump before I was pushed rather than face the consequences of screwing up the entire firms Christmas leave arrangements. It is not something that would be forgotten, or in any case forgiven.

boulevardofbrokendreamss · 12/10/2024 17:40

I work in prof services, over ten working days needs approval, and dates need agreement prior anyway. Usually approved but it was a bit of a sick move to book without approval, if you want your job.

sonjadog · 12/10/2024 17:42

People can leave at any time, also at Christmas on little notice. No-one is bound to keep doing a job they don't want to because it might affect their colleagues. The OP says she doesn't mind leaving her job, does it matter if it is go on holiday in Mexico or to sit in her house all all? Enjoy your holiday, OP, and good luck with the job hunting.

Choochoo21 · 12/10/2024 17:43

Why have you booked it at one of the most expensive times of the year?

You could have gone a couple of weeks later, paid half the price and not affected your work or colleagues.

coffeesaveslives · 12/10/2024 17:44

sonjadog · 12/10/2024 17:42

People can leave at any time, also at Christmas on little notice. No-one is bound to keep doing a job they don't want to because it might affect their colleagues. The OP says she doesn't mind leaving her job, does it matter if it is go on holiday in Mexico or to sit in her house all all? Enjoy your holiday, OP, and good luck with the job hunting.

God, exactly. It's just a job - people can leave for whatever reason they like.

stichguru · 12/10/2024 17:46

Selfish to your co-workers, but you are clearly going to leave if you don't get the leave you want, so nothing really to say to that. Hope you don't want a reference from the company...