To be fed up of having to work Christmas because I don't have children

[boogiewoogie24]

I work in a 24/7 sector so christmas day is a normal working day.

This year we have a new manager and we've been told that apart from christmas day and boxing day, we have to work our normal shifts. Those 2 days, we have to work either christmas or boxing day

I work weds-sun one week and weds-fri the other, so never work Mon and Tues. I've been informed I'm working christmas eve, which is a Tuesday. Of the 3 people who normally work the Tuesday late shift, 2 have very young children so are being allowed to either finish early (normal finish time is 11pm) or just don't have to work. The other person has older kids so is happy to work as normal.
So I've been told I'm working the Tuesday until 11pm. I questioned why when I don't work Tuesdays. Response was "you don't have kids" yeah that'll be because I've had 3 miscarriages over 10 years of trying for a baby.
I'm one of only 3 people who work at my place who don't have children. The other 2 are only in their early 20s so plenty of time for them to have in future. I'm nearly 40.

I'm also having to work both christmas and boxing day because it's Jane's first christmas as a mum so she can have both days off and Jill's got her kids this year and last year they were at their dad's so she can have both days off, and Mary's family are in Scotland (we are south england) so she can have the 2 days off to visit them. No doubt Sue and Karen will go off sick like normal... you get the picture.

I'm rambling I know. But basically I'm being penalised for being unable to have children. It doesn't matter that I find christmas incredibly hard and painful.

You are not being unreasonable and years ago I had a manager say something similar to me. He ended up being disciplined and getting a formal warning after I reported him for it

I wouldn’t hesitate to do it again

Well in my twenties I was in a similar positions, and would have to work around Xmas. Now I’m in my thirties and have children I work it less. But I’ve never been bothered about new years celebrations, so I’ll happily work that instead, where people without children often want this off to go party. Swings and roundabouts…

At my husbands workplace people with kids are off for Xmas and people without are off for new years. The majority seem to be OK with that system. Will you be off for new years since you've worked Xmas?

Jill's got her kids this year and last year they were at their dad's so she can have both days off

You're not being unreasonable - out of interest, did Jill work both days last year, when she didn't have her children? I would imagine not, but if she did then this might not be that unreasonable if she agreed with them "I'll work both days every other year".
If she did, then if I were you I'd ask for that deal ie since you're working both this year, you get both off next year.

The lazy old trope that people without kids don't care about Xmas and want to party on NYE. Not everyone with most kids is in their 20s

Wants and needs and child ownership are irrelevant. The only equitable way if everyone wants it off is to take turns.

Without kids not with most kids.

This sounds unfair, it should rotate each year. Not having kids does not mean you don't want to celebrate Xmas.

It isn't fair. If someone doesn't have children they most likely do have family that they want to see at Christmas, it's not like they live in some form of social vacuum.

DFIL's employer had the right idea. Whoever worked at Christmas got New Year's off and vice versa, and they swapped each year, so whoever worked Christmas one year got Christmas off the next year. It didn't matter who had or did not have children or what ages the children were.

Ahhh this is shit
Call in sick. Fuck them all

Our business works 24/7 over Christmas and as a Manager there is no way I’d be allowing this. Over the years I’ve heard every excuse going for people needing Christmas off, however it comes down to one thing - fairness. The Christmas rota brings out the worst in some people unfortunately and it needs nipped in the bud so it’s fair to everyone. Some parents think they’re more entitled to time off and it’s a huge bug bear of mine. Can you put in a complaint or a grievance OP?

I’ve never been into new years, so I’d always end up working it. There was some turn taking when it came to Xmas. Not everyone is conspiring against because you don’t have children ya know.

I am surprised a boss is allowed to openly voice their decision like this. You aren’t allowed to discriminate against people for having kids so surely it should surely go the other way too? What if you don’t have kids but are a devout Christian and require Christmas off for religious reasons. Your Workplace sounds like it’s opening a can of worms doing this and it should be a fair rota where everyone has to take their turn doing christmas. It’s the way it goes when your work in a 24/7 industry.

YANBU

That’s an utterly ridiculous way to run a business and completely unfair on anyone who doesn’t have children, everyone should be treated fairly in the workplace, especially with time off over the festive period. I’m surprised the staff put up with this tbh.

Yeah I'd be making a complaint about that comment and the allocation. Sorry, OP, it's so shit.

Yanbu, I used to ask everyone their preferences over Xmas and if there were too many wanting to be off, we would pick names out of a hat. People with kids tried to pull this one but those without kids still have people they want to see and travelling to do. If it's that important they would have chosen a job that allows time off. You have every right to complain and not be forced to work days you dont usually work

It’s discrimination. Totally unfair. I would complain hard.

What does your contract say about working days? Easy for me to say when I’m not in your shoes but I’d refuse!

Everyone is quite happy with the arrangement tbh . They all feel its fair

Does your work have a policy on this? My work says that those with children get priority during school holidays. I don't have kids, so my holiday works around some people for that reason. I don't have an issue with this, primarily because I would rather take time off at less busy times of the year.

It also works around a few other people where it is difficult if I take time off at the same time as them. Those others happen not to have children either, so I ask them to book a early as possible. I am a manager though so always do the days that others don't want to do.

Personally if I didn’t normally work a Tuesday then I’d point blank refuse to do it, not my usual shift, not my problem.

Festive rotas bring out the worst in some people.

I used to work in hospitality so can empathise with rotas.

Agreed I used to be a,nurse and was a in my early 20,s when I first qualified and at the time I didn't mind working Xmas an d having new yea r off ,however that was my choice and it should never be taken for granted that childless people don't mind working Xmas

You know that’s rubbish! Even as a Scot I never really liked new year even when I was young and wanted to ‘party’ I never managed to have a family but I still love Christmas and would feel it unfair to work every one and be stuck with New Year off!

They're probably all too terrified to say anything and it’s far from fair, if you think it’s fair you’re deluded.

That's thoroughly shit OP and I think you should put your foot down. No one should be having to work all three days.

And yeah, NY is shit compared to Christmas, absolutely don't accept that as a trade unless it absolutely means something to you personally.

I find that difficult to believe.

How is it fair that staff without children have to work it every year, and are therefore unable to spend Christmas with their families?