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Original poster

Should people who don’t celebrate Christmas get to have it off work?

372 replies

Username638 · 21/11/2024 06:59

Might be a controversial topic, I’m not sure. I work in a small team and there always has to be at least two people in over Christmas. One of the people does not celebrate Christmas due to their religion. They get a week or two off earlier in the year for Eid. Now that it has come to deciding who is having what time off for Christmas, the colleague who doesn’t celebrate it has said he might go for a trip away. I find this unfair really because he has already had his celebration and his time off work. It was a given, he didn’t need to fight over holidays, he just was granted the time off (which is fine obviously, that’s not the issue. I’m just saying he has already had his celebration and now it’s ours).

I don’t think there should be any rules in place that he can’t have any time off over Xmas because I do think it would be unfair and not right. But I just would’ve hoped that he would make the decision off his own back to work Xmas eve, Xmas day and Boxing Day so that those who celebrate it can have it off. I feel like it’s common decency? I did ask what he is up to for Xmas a few weeks ago and he said nothing as he doesn’t celebrate it. But now he’s decided he might go away for the whole week of Christmas and I just find it selfish tbh.

OP posts:
Dragonsandcats · 21/11/2024 07:01

In your specific example I agree, it would be fair for your colleague to let you have christmas off.

Sheepsandcows · 21/11/2024 07:07

Christmas/new year has 3 bank holidays. It allows people to take a longer stretch off and seeing family without burning through too much annual leave. You cannot compare it to Eid. Apart from that, you also have 3 bank holidays in that time. Unless you are in certain sectors, you will have some time off in any case.

Elmo230885 · 21/11/2024 07:08

In that situation I would hope the person makes the right decision but sadly people aren't always team players.

What would happen on the flip if several team members booked Eid off as unrelated leave?

headstone · 21/11/2024 07:09

Why didn’t you bring it up with him at the time? Why have you not already asked work for the time off, or did you just assume he wouldn’t want the time off. When it comes to the Xmas period make no assumptions as many people celebrate it culturally if not religiously also it is a time when most people in the UK have time off with their families. He can get time off for Eid because it’s usually not during UK public holidays.

Zanatdy · 21/11/2024 07:09

Yes he should offer to cover when he has already had time off for his religious celebration. It does seem very unfair that he isn’t offering to cover. I guess time off is popular whether you celebrate Christmas or not due to the bank holidays / shorter leave required. I’d be quitely annoyed if he got the time off over a colleague who wanted to visit their family and celebrate the holiday. Feels quite selfish of him

GrumpyFrownFace · 21/11/2024 07:11

What if it's because his kids/family are off but they are not over Eid?

GargoylesofBeelzebub · 21/11/2024 07:12

Does he have children?

PoupeeGonflable · 21/11/2024 07:12

Presumably you are a practising Christian and will be at church for midnight mass on christmas eve and for a service on christmas day. And that you will be just singing holy carols (not 'all I want for Christmas', etc), exchanging only 1 token gift?
Otherwise, sorry, you are being so divisive culturally and professionally; i mean, saying 'I’m just saying he has already had his celebration and now it’s ours' couldn't be any clearer in its resentment.

Original poster
Username638 · 21/11/2024 07:12

headstone · 21/11/2024 07:09

Why didn’t you bring it up with him at the time? Why have you not already asked work for the time off, or did you just assume he wouldn’t want the time off. When it comes to the Xmas period make no assumptions as many people celebrate it culturally if not religiously also it is a time when most people in the UK have time off with their families. He can get time off for Eid because it’s usually not during UK public holidays.

We have been asking for time off since the end of October! My manager just isn’t doing it. He has said no one is allowed to book any time off over Christmas until he has sent a rota out and we all put down which days we want to work. We keep asking every week but so far it hasn’t been sent out.

I didn’t bring it up with him at the time because it’s not up to me what time he takes off. I just would’ve hoped that as he doesn’t celebrate it, he would let the other members of his team have it off instead.

OP posts:
Whaleandsnail6 · 21/11/2024 07:13

Its a tough one...unless everyone in the job is wanting to celebrate Christmas for its religiousness, and not the fact that culturally in this country, it is often a holiday that people celebrate whether religious or not, then I dont think the fact he had eid off should come into it.

Honestly, how many people in the job want Christmas to attend religious services? Only then is it comparable to eid (providing he celebrated the religiousness of that)

MyTattooIsBetterThanYours · 21/11/2024 07:14

What happens at Easter?

Spirallingdownwards · 21/11/2024 07:15

If he wants to take a trip and take advantage of using less annual leave because Christnas Bank Holidays mean he can have a longer break why shouldn't he?

Perhaps his kids are off school then. Or are you also one of those who say childless or child free people should not be allowed to have Christnas off too?

DanielaDressen · 21/11/2024 07:15

Did he use his annual leave for Eid? Or are you saying he was given extra time off? If he used his leave then it's kind of irrelevant that it was for Eid? I get that you're saying he doesn't celebrate xmas but the pp made a good point it's a good way of having a break without using leave. And he's entitled to do that, I'd say the majority of people just use it as a good opportunity to have a break/see family which he can still do.

Doingmybest12 · 21/11/2024 07:15

I think you'd hope everyone would take their turn. You have the days off which recognise the religious aspect of the celebration. The time with family in midwinter when everyone stops is the same for most people. His holiday booked at another time doesn't equate as I assume you book holiday at another time too.

Original poster
Username638 · 21/11/2024 07:15

PoupeeGonflable · 21/11/2024 07:12

Presumably you are a practising Christian and will be at church for midnight mass on christmas eve and for a service on christmas day. And that you will be just singing holy carols (not 'all I want for Christmas', etc), exchanging only 1 token gift?
Otherwise, sorry, you are being so divisive culturally and professionally; i mean, saying 'I’m just saying he has already had his celebration and now it’s ours' couldn't be any clearer in its resentment.

But the point is…. I celebrate Christmas and he doesn’t. Now I will potentially have to work Xmas day while someone who doesn’t celebrate it has it off and I don’t think it’s fair. Again, I don’t think it should be enforced by the work place! I’m just saying on a human decency level, it would be nice if him to think of the people on the team that do celebrate it and will want it off

OP posts:
Dancingfairydreams · 21/11/2024 07:17

Whe you say they had time off for Eid, do you mean they booked annual leave or the company just gave them time off? Because, strangely enough ppl can use their annual leave for whatever they want.

I think you are mixing up poor management of annual leave with the religious aspect tbh. Your management need to manage the annual leave christmas period better. It's needs to be fair for all.

Yes, he could volunteer to work, but he's entitled to use his leave as he wishes too.

Doingmybest12 · 21/11/2024 07:17

Oh I see you have to work Christmas day, it would be lovely if he offered this but I wouldn't expect him to every year.

Original poster
Username638 · 21/11/2024 07:18

DanielaDressen · 21/11/2024 07:15

Did he use his annual leave for Eid? Or are you saying he was given extra time off? If he used his leave then it's kind of irrelevant that it was for Eid? I get that you're saying he doesn't celebrate xmas but the pp made a good point it's a good way of having a break without using leave. And he's entitled to do that, I'd say the majority of people just use it as a good opportunity to have a break/see family which he can still do.

He used his annual leave, we also have to use our annual leave for Xmas so no one gets any extra time off or anything. So saying it’s a good use of time off without using AL doesn’t work in our case. We get 33 days holiday in total and if we are not working the bank holidays we have to use our AL

OP posts:
AlertCat · 21/11/2024 07:18

As a pp mentioned, Christmas gets three bank holidays (and in many companies, not yours though) a complete shutdown, so everyone is off regardless or at least needs to use less annual leave for a week off. Eid, Hanukkah, Diwali and other celebrations do not so people celebrating those have to use their annual leave to do so. That’s unfair.
Maybe your colleague feels burnt out and wants a holiday? Just because he won’t celebrate Christmas doesn’t mean he doesn’t need time off- it’s pretty draining at this time of year.

MyTattooIsBetterThanYours · 21/11/2024 07:18

What industry/job do you do?

Whaleandsnail6 · 21/11/2024 07:19

Username638 · 21/11/2024 07:15

But the point is…. I celebrate Christmas and he doesn’t. Now I will potentially have to work Xmas day while someone who doesn’t celebrate it has it off and I don’t think it’s fair. Again, I don’t think it should be enforced by the work place! I’m just saying on a human decency level, it would be nice if him to think of the people on the team that do celebrate it and will want it off

Show quote history

But why do you celebrate? Is it the birth of Jesus that you celebrate, or is it having friends and family together?

If it isnt the religious aspect you celebrate, then you are both kind of in the same boat in that neither of you take the religious part if the holiday. You want to time off with family, he wants time off for a trip.

If it is the actual birth of Jesus and Christian celebraions and church service, then I think you have a point. If not, then I dont.

Dancingfairydreams · 21/11/2024 07:19

Also, don't work in an industry that is open on Christmas day if you don't want the risk of having to work it!

growinguptobreakingdown · 21/11/2024 07:19

Op does he have children?If so it's the school holidays so of course he would want it off.If not I can understand your annoyance.

RampantIvy · 21/11/2024 07:19

Dragonsandcats · 21/11/2024 07:01

In your specific example I agree, it would be fair for your colleague to let you have christmas off.

So do I.
My workplace shuts down between Christmas and New year so everyone is off regardless of their culture or religion.

IdgieThreadgoodeIsMyHeroine · 21/11/2024 07:20

Username638 · 21/11/2024 06:59

Might be a controversial topic, I’m not sure. I work in a small team and there always has to be at least two people in over Christmas. One of the people does not celebrate Christmas due to their religion. They get a week or two off earlier in the year for Eid. Now that it has come to deciding who is having what time off for Christmas, the colleague who doesn’t celebrate it has said he might go for a trip away. I find this unfair really because he has already had his celebration and his time off work. It was a given, he didn’t need to fight over holidays, he just was granted the time off (which is fine obviously, that’s not the issue. I’m just saying he has already had his celebration and now it’s ours).

I don’t think there should be any rules in place that he can’t have any time off over Xmas because I do think it would be unfair and not right. But I just would’ve hoped that he would make the decision off his own back to work Xmas eve, Xmas day and Boxing Day so that those who celebrate it can have it off. I feel like it’s common decency? I did ask what he is up to for Xmas a few weeks ago and he said nothing as he doesn’t celebrate it. But now he’s decided he might go away for the whole week of Christmas and I just find it selfish tbh.

Are you a Christian, OP? Because I'm not, and I still celebrate Christmas. It's a cultural celebration to many people in Britain, not a religious one.

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