To be annoyed colleague is taking two months off?

[galleo]

My colleague (and friend) is expecting. She is going to take July-January as mat leave, then she is taking July-August next year off as split mat leave.

Our team is very thinly staffed and manager isn’t getting someone to cover maternity. That’s fine we will manage. However, it does mean that there’s not enough staff to cover holidays. So we are being discouraged from taking more than a week at a time off during the time my colleague is away. We are very busy in the summer months so only one member of the team can be off during the school holidays - but as colleague is taking the split mat leave in July August, that means for next summer holidays, I can’t take a single week off to spend time with my kids!

This exactly. Don't blame your colleague.

You're being very unreasonable. This is your employers issue not your 'friends'.

I would look for another job in your situation. One where you could take more time off with kids during the holidays.

How dare you be annoyed with a colleague for this. Cheek of you! 😡

You should be annoyed with your employer, not your colleague

The OP has probably got the message about her misplaced frustration by now and doesn’t need further scolding.

OP - explain to your manger that being unable to take any summer leave with your school-aged children is unrealistic. Advise that if the decision is not reversed, you’d have to consider looking for a different job, which would obviously be a ball ache for you and for the manager if you were successful in finding one.

This can be resolved amicably and without potentially making your colleague feel unnecessarily awkward.

I would be annoyed with your manager , and I don't think it's right for your colleague to take a split maternity leave , simply because it is time to spend with baby when young ,recovering from birth , adjusting to family life, it's not a holiday.

That's a bit rich coming from a self confessed egg thief! The cheek of you !

YANBU for being annoyed but it's directed at the wrong person.

I would talk with the manager explaining the OP has school age children and she needs the summer leave. I would never bluff leaving the company unless I had another position to go to. Giving an ultimatum about leaving is not good policy unless the OP is in a niche very sought after position.

FAR better to be a thief than an annoying sly colleague!

be annoyed at your work not your colleague

Not her problem is it really.

Be childless then you never get any summer, Christmas , Easter holidays off.

I don’t have kids but I get to take time off over all those holidays although I often choose not to mainly since it’s cheaper to travel in term time.

It’s not even part of our workplace discussions whether someone has kids or not when we figure out annual leave.

My work isn’t perfect, but thankfully the parents in my work aren’t entitled or insensitive like that.

Totally agree...

Be annoyed at your manager not your colleague!

I didn't think that was usually allowed, it's quite selfish and cheeky of her IMHO. I would give her the cold shoulder when she got back.

This.

Yes, it's very annoying, but this is not your colleague's fault.

Give her the cold shoulder because the manager failed to cover her for maternity leave?

It's a split maternity leave. Is this an automatic right now. Not heard of this being allowed. Causing maximum inconvenience ce to everybody.

I wouldn't be annoyed with your colleague she is doing what most people would do which is to take her maternity leave at the most convenient time for her, she is entitled to do that
You should be very annoyed with your employers who are not providing adequate cover for when she is away

It doesn’t cause inconvenience to anyone. It’s the manager’s lack of planning which does that.

I think you should come up with a plan as to how to cover the work, with two people absent - perhaps even assigning tasks to your manager...

It is causing inconvenience to,OP., That's why she is posting about it, Honestly, some folk.,