I've booked the trip of a lifetime

[soundsintheair]

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?

But people can leave jobs at any time for any reason - what if OP was signed off sick for months, or was moving house, or was leaving to pursue a new career?

Or is it just because she's going on holiday that people find her behaviour selfish?

Do most companies not sort christmas and new year holidays before now? Seems a bit late.

Also ypu are being selfish but that's totally your call and you are willing to take the consequences

Dying is one thing. Whilst we are alive, we have responsibilities to our fellow human beings. If you doubt the wisdom if what I am saying, I can only refer you to the relationships board on this site. If you still fail to appreciate the unnecessary harm that thoughtless and cruel people can inflict on others, there is no hope. Standards in how we treat each other are the basis of a civilised society. This is why we have laws, to deal with situations where there is no obvious clear cut answer, or to regulate those who live outside the rules. We are social animals, and we achieve the best and happiest for all in living when we try and step lightly on each others' toes.

Yeah, I know that but what difference does the reason make? The impact on her colleagues is exactly the same regardless...

Jeez, it's just a job, it's really not that deep for most people.

Do it with no guilt, OP. This is plenty of time for your work to cover the leave.

Seriously, don’t give it another thought.

I find a lot of these posts fascinating.

If it's selfish to book a holiday for Christmas because it screws people over, is it also selfish to move house at that time of year, or take a new job?

Because the impact on your colleagues is exactly the same, whether you're off to get drunk in Mexico or going to take up a new job on Aberdeen.

I think many on here will disagree with you. Don't turn up in ten years asking why you've never made a success of your career and others earn far more than you. Employment is just another type of relationship, and if you treat others fairly they'll be much more inclined to do the same to you.

I'm just going to be very honest and say if a colleague took my prebooked hols away because of this I'd be livid. I certainly wouldn't be saying YOLO.

Interesting question though if you had approved hols for Christmas and let's say someone did this, can you lose those agreed hols so or is depending on the business?

This doesn't sound like you've thought about the impact this has on your poor colleagues. Either that or you don't give a toss about selfishly ruining their plans. Wouldn't it have been better to have had a discussion beforehand with your team and your manager to see what leave would have been fairly shared out.

I think you'd be better off handing in your notice rather than asking for the time off because it's not going to go down well with anyone, colleagues or managers.

I don't think you can't speak for the entire NHS 😆 we are absolutely allowed to book leave over Christmas, but my team isn't allowed leave in August due to the nature of the role, I wouldn't say, no one in the NHS can book leave over summer though!

"I know I've fucked up other people's Christmas plans but I'm going to have a lovely holiday".

Fixed it for you.

Erm....I'm guessing the colleagues she has screwed over and ruined their Christmas plans will think differently.

I did exactly the same Op, in fact they took so long to agree I just booked it anyway. They did agree eventually (3 weeks), but I left 11 months later to travel as I'd had enough of my 'new' manager who didn't understand my job and was a bit of a twit 😉

Your holiday of a lifetime doesnt trump everyone else's christmas leave plans, OP. I hope you're forced to quit tbh.

lol, I don't need your weird faux concern thanks! I'm self-employed and run a very successful business, take two weeks off every Christmas and Easter, and have an excellent work-life balance. My clients are fantastic and have no issue with me taking time off when I need to

I went overseas for 6 weeks last Christmas but I had my leave approved before I booked my flights …..my manager had to go to next management level up due to the length of time requested….then I had to submit a statement saying why I wanted that much time off…..it was agreed within a week though…..and I’m nhs.

This is such drama queening. It’s the employer that needs to sort the cover.

Most people give less notice than this to leave a job.

Honestly, so many of these posts are such jobsworths.

She could leave her job for any number of reasons and "screw her colleagues over".

It’s not an urban myth where I work unfortunately 😭

Why on earth would you just book it without getting the leave first, maybe 6months in advance but not 2/3

They're also showing a million times more loyalty to their jobs than their jobs would likely ever show to them, lol.

I've left two jobs at short notice and nobody gave a single shit. I was replaced within a week or two and that was that.

@coffeesaveslives Let's hope it all continues to be a terrific success for you then, eh? I'm sure your personal relationships will be sparkling too

They are, thanks