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

I worked for 10+ years in a call centre (tv services) - we were open xmas day....people used to call about their packages......I always did wonder whyy!

This is the big issue about Christmas Day being the same day for everybody!

If you want to have your birthday off, it's so much easier as it's just another standard day to everybody else... unless your birthday falls on Christmas Day, I guess!

There’s no harm in asking. Some people are happy to. When I was in my 20s I worked all the hours I could get my hands on over Christmas as I wanted the money. If someone with kids wanted to swamp I’d have happily done so.

As long as people don’t feel pressured a polite request shouldn’t be a big deal, and it shouldn’t be an excuse to go an a parents expect so much rant.

I mean you're working 2/3 bank holidays 🤷🏼‍♀️so for that yabu. But yanbu to refuse to work other people's Xmas eve.

I don't think you've been shafted with the actual shifts, you've been given one bank holiday off as per the schedule.

Just don't agree to work Christmas eve if you don't want to.

I don't care what anyone says, Christmas is absolutely more important for kids, it just is. What adults do on Christmas day, you can do on any other day really, for kids, the magic of Christmas is at its peak on Christmas Eve and Day. People who get indignant about that fact are being awkward for the sake of it.

Before I had kids, I happily swapped my Xmas eve/day for NYE/NYD the few years I worked in a place that was open over the period. I could still have my breakfast before work, it was a chill day at work, and did present exchange and Xmas dinner when I got home.

I do feel for the medical field and emergency services as I can imagine it still being a busy day for them and having to try and keep bright and cheery for people, and they unfortunately have very little choice than to take their turn covering the days due to the nature of their work.

Do you have any non-Christians in your workplace you can ask to swap? DH and I are both working over Xmas as we are not Christian and don't mind swapping with others.

Just say no op. You do not have to explain yourself. Fed up of hearing this behaviour.

I’m confused, you are working the 2/3 like is requested. Is the annoyance more a parent has asked for you to Christmas Eve? For me it depends, was it more a question if it was possible or more of a demand you don’t have kids. They are ok to ask and you can say no.

Everyone has to work 2 out of the 3 bank holidays

You ARE working 2 of the 3 Bank holidays. You have not been shafted. At all. Just say no to covering Christmas Eve, job done.

You can't go round asking that in an office

The issue is if you don't have children ever

I did 9 years in a row, Christmas Eve, Christmas day, Boxing Day, NYE and NYD
My family were getting pretty pissed off they never saw me, I was never getting a break over Christmas
I didn't have Christmas properly as a child and all my dad wanted was one "normal" family Christmas
I kicked off and year 10 I got the lot off and still people were complaining they were having to work 1 Christmas out of 10

If you take a job that is 24/7 you need to be prepared to work 24/7 whether you have children or not

It sounds fair to me and only do swaps if it benefits you.

Yeah no one goes Wooooo yes!!!! Boxing day!!!!! Unless they like hunting

I don’t understand how you’ve been shafted? You’re working 2 of the 3, just like everyone else. I’m sure a lot of people are working Xmas day, and others won’t be.
Unless you’ve never once had Xmas day off because they always give it to the parents? Then that wouldn’t be fair.

The only annoying thing is other people asking you to work Xmas eve. Just say no though, your work haven’t shafted you. That’s your colleagues being irritated. Just say no.

Maybe certain days are really important to the OP, too? Or do you believe that only parents get to feel that Christmas Eve and Day are important?

Having said that, OP, you're not being shafted inasmuch as you're working two of three bank holidays, like (I presume) everyone else. Unless you've been in this job for some time and always been given the same days?
But your colleagues are seriously taking the piss. How dare they tell you that being childless means you should cover for them? I'd hand them their arses, and raise it with management while I was at it. It's harassment about personal circumstances and it's massively inappropriate. Not to mention a potential huge legal mess for them; what if you or someone else in your position is 'childless' because e.g. of infertility? Or have had a child die?
People who behave like this are cunts.

Well 9 years is a bit too much to be fair, so in your case you had a reason to be annoyed cos that is a piss take.

I stand by what I said in general about kids.

Everybody asks me. I don't mind. They know I don't do Xmas. I take Diwali off.

PP who hasn't had 9 years off, that is way too much.

This It's unfair to work all the bank holidays.

I am so confused. You said you’ve been completely shafted but you’re working 2/3 bank holidays which you said everyone has to do?

Just say no to the parents wanting you to do their Christmas Eve shift.

What is the actual issue here?

You haven't been shafted. This is just (another) weird goady thread on a parenting website to try and have a go at working parents.

Why are there so many of these? Is this what Mumsnet thinks parents of toddlers want or need?

New Year’s Eve isn’t a bank holiday. OP is doing 2 out of 3 BH’s like all her colleagues

They know you don't do christmas though. You can't go round asking people if they want christmas off because they are a Christian or if they just want an atheist christmas

Just say no if anyone asks you to cover their shift.

Christmas is for everyone.

But it’s still two out of three bank holidays , the same as everyone else. NY Eve isn’t a bank holiday. It’s normal to work that, and Xmas Eve.