Completely shafted over in the christmas rota

[Mysticcatmum]

I work in a call centre

Everyone has to work 2 out of the 3 bank holidays, I put in my preferred date of Xmas off

I have been scheduled to work Xmas day, new years eve and day

I then have the parents of toddlers asking me to cover their Christmas eve shifts as I am 'childless'. I have found out that the same people do infact have off Xmas day

Apologies, more of a rant but AIBU to be sick of the mentality of 'christmas is for kids'?! Despite me adoring the holiday

Yes, good question, how OP?

I feel your pain OP.
i work in a care home kitchen on a two weekly rota. I’m scheduled to work Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, Boxing Day and the Friday, I’m absolutely gutted. This will be the 4th Christmas I’ve worked like that in 5 years as boss conveniently changes the rotas and the weeks around!

Just tell the people who are trying to get you to cover for them, that you have plans for those days with family and friends, because you are working Christmas day, New Year's Eve and day!

Although not bank holidays, Christmas Eve and NYE are special days. So in that sense, I feel like she has been shafted having to work them both alongside her expected bank holiday shifts. One would be fairer.

It’s because she’s expected to work both the non bank holiday special days as well.

Working shifts as a nurse for the past 40 yrs, we always gave xmas day off to collegues who have children, then swap for new years eve. Always works well, no arguments. Working shifts isn't the best , but you have to get on with it ...

No, she isn't expected to do anything. A colleague's asked her to do them a favour and cover their Christmas Eve shift, but she's said no so that's the end of it.

This

Although not bank holidays, Christmas Eve and NYE are special days. So in that sense, I feel like she has been shafted having to work them both alongside her expected bank holiday shifts.

@Rhaenys but she hasn't been put on the rota for Christmas Eve. A colleague has asked her if she'll swap and work it, but she can say no, and wouldn't be being at all unreasonable. But the rota has not done this at all. She is working two bank holidays as per the policy, and one of the other special days.

Hi op,

I get your rant!

I hope that nice food, nice deco and a good ambiance (as much as possible between calls) will be helping the medicine go down.

Good luck 🌺

Would you be happier to swap Xmas Eve off for NYE off? Maybe you can get a decent swap out of it 😉

If they keep asking you to swap shifts, say sorry I am already working XXX days, I don't want to work any more. I know it is a emergency service and has to be manned but they know that before they take the job.

I would honestly start now looking for another job and then give notice as close to Christmas as your contract allows. Just seen its 111 so probably not the best advice sorry

As are many thousands and thousands of people: retail, transport, health care professionals, carers, journalists, broadcasters... numerous people in numerous jobs 🤔🤷

This is a management problem.

To be fair, I think it would be fairly unusual to have to work more than 3 out of 5 unless it was your choice.

And that is more than enough.

It seems she hasn’t been, she’s gotten 2/3 in line with the policy.

A parent asked her to cover another, she doesn’t want to, all she has to do is say so.

3 out of 5 of what? BH's or days before and after Christmas Day and New Year's Day? Neither is unusual in NHS and I doubt it is in retail either

I think it’s pretty obvious what I mean, unless you’re being deliberately obtuse?

Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, Boxing Day, New Year’s Eve, New Year’s Day.

Even in the NHS and retail, it would be very unlucky to be on the rota that many days - unless they’ve requested it themselves.

@Rhaenys but everyone where OP works works 2 of the 3 bank holidays. So there must be loads of people also working one of the "eves" as well. Because both those days (Christmas Eve and NYE) will be staffed by people also working 2/3 BH days.
So it won't be at all unusual where OP works to be doing 3 of those 5 days.

It might suck. But it doesn't sound like she's being treated any worse than her colleagues here.

Yeah that’s true. Perhaps shafted is the wrong word, but if colleagues were expecting me to work an extra special day, to make it 4/5, I’d be mightily pissed off too.

They just asked! When I was in my 20s is have done it no problem and I wouldn’t have cared why they were asking, working over Christmas just didnt bother me.

As long as it’s a polite request all she has to do is say no.

What sort of call centre is open on Christmas day?

I would just pull a sickie to be honest 😂