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

[Username638]

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.

Yes, because he has already booked it. Being that he is Muslim, knows only 1 staff member can be off, and it's not a bank hol = he books 1-2 weeks spanning the estimated dates. OP has been very selective with her language, but if you actually read all the updates it becomes clear.

I’m sorry for my ignorance here, I didn’t mean for them to be at all. I still don’t really know why they are racist…

I think I see what you're saying: you're annoyed whenever someone who doesn't value Christmas, is bored with it even, competes to take Annual Leave over that period against people from families who long to spend Christmas together. I get your point, but maybe the wish to make use of bank holidays to go away plus the fact that this is the darkest point of the year and some people long to be a in a warmer climate, also needs respecting? It's different, but it can be a strong wish.

He could easily take his leave the week before Christmas or the week after though, the bank holidays make no difference because op has said they have to take them as AL too.

This is always a tough one!
I would not assume that he does not want holidays over Christmas, as even if not celebrating it, the amount of bank holidays may make it one of the best times of the year to see relatives as they are likely to be all, or most of them, off if in UK.
If I were not doing anything family related, I would work, in his situation, or similar, to allow those celebrating Christmas to enjoy it.
The problem really, is your manager. He should sort this and the rota. It is really leaving it late. Those celebrating Christmas do need to know if they are working, which days, if they will be there for the kids or would want to open presents or whatever other day, when they can visit family.... and so on and on! Your manager needs to get it done and allow for you guys to swap shifts if needed.

Also, just to say that those posters claiming that to celebrate Christmas you need to go to mass......, they need to get in contact with real life! Of course is the biggest celebration in Christianity, but it is also very much part of our culture, flipping obviously. No one gets to decide that X person does not celebrate Christmas in UK because they do not go to Christmas Mass.

Op did not. I was responding to @ilove sooty about a different scenario, which specified v clearly that the older man being discussed was acting in an entitled manner. Have you rtft?

Maybe someone should explain and ask him then, but he still might prefer to be away while everyone else is celebrating, if it gets him down.

I'm arguing the exact opposite of that if you read what i actually wrote, and if you imply I only feel that way about Muslims, of course it looks like you're attempting to lable me as racist, so don't be surprised when you're pulled up on it.

Perhaps whoever he is travelling with/to see will be taking advantage of the bank hols? Leave the week before is useless if the people you're visiting will be at work.

Edited to delete my comment and not derail the thread by arguing with idiots!

@Naunet just re-read your own posts.

Ahh, as suspected, you have nothing, just trying to silence opinions you don't agree with.

The difference is that the OP is the one making the comparison between two religious days.

If you use the argument of a mid winter festival not linked to Christianity then the OP has no argument at all because the Muslim colleague can choose to celebrate.

I get what your saying Op and I agree its disappointing your colleague isn't thinking in a considerate way. We had similar rules where I used to work and some people would happily work Christmas because it suited them and allowed others to have it off. I've done it at times - no skin of my nose.

My question is why was your colleague allowed a holiday with relatively short notice during this time and everyone else had to wait untill the rota was published to see what they would be working? Why didn't you book it off if you're allowed to?

Completely agree with you op! YANBU…if he is not bothered about the celebration, then allows those who are to have the time off. I imagine if roles were reversed and he couldn’t have time off for his celebration because a member of staff wanted the same time off, then there would be uproar. I know how these things work because I’ve seen it happen in a previous place I worked at. Team players are a must in this sector and each others celebrations should be respected and acknowledged.

It doenst have to be an essential service.

A lot of non essential services are open on Christmas day.

I used to work for a call centre for a non essential service and we had to work Christmas day, every second year.

As we were told "people still have issues on Christmas day! And they will ring for help"

Always somebody, no matter the subject, tries to be divisive.

I don't think anyone is allowed to have it off at work. 😂

As Christmas is a cultural/ secular mid winter celebration in the UK as well as a Christian one it doesn't really work to compare it with Eid. Often the Christmas period is the only time in a year most people will have some time off - when the UK mostly 'stops' for a couple of days. Even if you're not culturally Christian, those days may be a good time to visit relatives/ friends/ go away. And they can be lonely days for people not celebrating - hence why people might try to go on holiday away from home (and yes, why others might volunteer to work it).

The reasonable thing should be for you all to take it in turns in all honesty, rather than only those who don't celebrate it working it every year, for that YABU.
I no longer practice, but was raised a Jehovah's Witness, so didn't celebrate Christmas due to it's being a pagan holiday, rather than a Christian one. I worked in care as a teenager. One year I asked for it off to spend time with my mum who also didn't celebrate. I was met with comments like yours, that its fair I work it every year, and found it extremely rude. Christmas unlike Eid, Hannukah etc. is a public holiday in this country, so people who don't celebrate it still see their families on this day.

I agree with you OP it's selfish and he could be more considerate to his fellow workers.

The focus on the Muslim guy is interesting. No real mention so far about the others in the office…

Anyway rotas need to be fair. Christmas leave should be allocated fairly and that hasn’t happened here. No need to mention religion etc. if he was on leave last Christmas, no way should he be off again this year.

People of all faiths go away over Xmas. Due to school hols, better weather in certain countries, aligning with leave of family abroad etc. In my view, everyone is entitled to request leave then. But the manager has to be fair when allocating it. Same re the Eid days which change every year. Nobody is automatically entitled to that period. Even though that’s what the manager has apparently said…

Then it should be reciprocated by those who celebrate Eid.

If you are a practicing Christian then I think your boss should give you priority if not everyone can have Christmas day off, otherwise everyone is entitled to time off if you are just looking for an extended break.

I would email and say something like- i will not be working Tuesday as its not a normal working day for me. I also am extremely sensitive to your comments regarding not having children. I find these hurtful and rude being said in a throwaway comment so you can cover the rota. I will be taking this further with HR. Then speak to HR and say about the miscarriages, how upset you are re no children and how unfair the comments are.

maybe time to look for a new job