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

You haven't been shafted given you're working the expected two out of three bank holidays, but absolutely you should be free to say no to any swaps for Christmas Eve (unless there's something in it for you, but it doesn't sound like there is). Your Christmas matters too.

Or do this.

So everyone has to work 2 of the 3 bank holiday - and you are working 2 of the 3 bank holidays...What am I missing?

I get it's annoying to be constantly being asked to swap, but you can just say no.

How have you been shafted? You're working 2/3 BHs along with everyone else. I'd imagine that Xmas Day/Boxing Day are generally more desirable to have off than NYD, so you've probably done alright.

As regarding swapping shifts, well don't if you don't want to. But you might prefer say NYE off over Xmas Eve, so perhaps consider that swap if it would suit you. Otherwise, just stick with what you have - your fairly allocated 2/3 BH shifts.

Please do this and see what they say! Quite frankly it's not your problem, you're just as entitled to time off as anyone else despite their protestations. It's fine for them to ask but doubly fine for you to say no thanks.

You haven't been shafted. You are working 2 out of the 3 bank holidays.
You can say to anyone that asks that you can't work their Christmas Eve shift as you have plans.
So what if you don't have children and they do. Don't feel guilt tripped into swapping.

Who on earth are you calling on Christmas day?

Are people really saying to you “Can you swap with me because you are childless” though?

How have you been shafted when you are are working your allotted 2 out of 3 bank holidays? You haven't got the day off you requested, that's annoying but you haven't been "shafted". And you can say no to people asking you to cover Christmas eve, that's totally within your gift. Stop acting as if you've been hard done by when you've just been asked to do your job.

Call centres aren't just about cold calling. Something like the emergency line to cancel lost and stolen bank cards would operate 24/7.

Yeah I agree. Unless I'm missing something you're doing what you were told would happen?

Ah yeah of course. That makes sense.

This. Everyone will want Christmas Day off, someone has to work. Don’t swap Christmas Eve if you don’t want to though.

You know call centres received calls too don't you? Could be emergency services, energy provider line, 101, Electric board, and so on. OP didn't say she'll be busy flogging double glazing.

If I was a parent then New Year’s Eve/day would mean nothing to me, but Christmas Eve and day would be really important. could you negotiate with one of the parents to agree you’d work Christmas Eve if they cover you you on NYE and day for example?

Also, make sure it’s noted that you worked x bankholidays this year so won’t be working next year. What sort of call centre works Christmas Day, is it an emergency/crisis line or something?

Yeah, I worked 1 Christmas in a call centre. Never again. Left the job.

@YellowAsteroid is right, @Mysticcatmum - you have every right to refuse to work Christmas Eve for them.

If you want to mess with them, you could say you will swap with them, if you can have their Christmas day off - I doubt you'll get any takers (and if you do, it's a win for you).

I would offer to swap your Christmas eve for their Christmas day off like others have suggested. That should shut them up.

Ask those parents of toddlers to cover new year for you in exchange for Christmas Eve.

If the rules are that everyone works 2/3 bank hols, and she's been allocated 2/3 bank hols, she can't be expecting special treatment next year!

She hasn't been shafted! She's been allocated 2/3 just like everyone else.

What are you moaning about? You're not working them all. You can just say no to parents.

You haven’t remotely been shafted, I can’t really understand what you’re getting worked up about 😫
Just say no to covering anyone else’s shifts if you don’t want to do them.
I really don’t get what’s rattled you here.

Just tell them no. You're already working Xmas day.

That's exactly what I thought!

Working in a call centre is hardly a high flying career..I'm sorry if that sounds snobby but it's a job to just get a wage in and often the conditions and pay are less than ideal.

There are plenty of admin jobs via agencies or through job websites that will pay the same, with no requirement to work Christmas.

I had years working in retail, missing Christmas and bank holidays, before I suddenly came to my senses and realised how much I was missing out on.

If I was the OP and Christmas meant so much to me, I would be taking a leap of faith and handing my notice in now.

OP has said she loves Christmas though, she may well prefer to have Christmas Eve off.