Is August the new Christmas? (MNers Without Children Forum)

[CleanShirt]

I've been the only supervisor in the office out of 5 for the past 2 weeks, and another week to go before anyone comes back. I'm the only one without children.

It's been insanely busy, I've been working late / weekends because nobody else is available to do it. I'm trying to exchange on a flat and I can see burnout catching up with me.

Nobody has given me an explanation as to why everyone was given annual leave at the same time, just "summer holidays". None of my the other supervisors checked in with me before they went off - I've literally just been lumbered with a gigantic workload, as well as supervision / welfare of staff.

Just a little rant!

Don't work late.
Don't work week-ends.
Get your annual leave in first, for next year.

Ask your manager why so many holidays have been approved at the same time, and how the same situation can be avoided in future.

Unfortunately the nature of my job means that it's non negotiable - but usually have more people to spread it around!

Oh I intend to!

I once had a manager who actually laughed in the face of one of my colleagues when she asked for time off over August because she didn't have children. She wanted the time off to spend with her partner who was due to deploy to a warzone for six months at the end of the month and be away over Christmas. But no, according to him those of us without children were never allowed to book leave which coincided with school holidays regardless of the reason.

20 odd ago I worked in a bank and we were blatantly told - don't try and book any time off in the school hols off if you don't have kids, it won't be approved. We had a colleague whose husband was a teacher but she was just told tough that's the 'rule'.

... that's why I think AL should be first come first served.

Everyone would like to have time off while the weather is half decent and then add the Bank Holiday weekend
...

@CleanShirt four out of five at one time is over the top. Surely a couple of them could have gone in July?

You'd think! I just feel like such an afterthought, ol' muggins here.

I'm also the only female supervisor if relevant.

So what would they do if you went off sick? I’m not suggesting you fake it, but it has put the department in a very precarious position.

I have mentioned that more than once! Almost wanted to do it just to see the fallout 😅

You should go off sick. Bad management is not your problem, it's theirs - make it theirs.

That happened to me at work recently - a few people were off, I was covering & the day after the last one went on leave I came down with a (genuine) bug & could barely get out of bed.

Luckily it was a quiet period but they got the point.

This year is the first time ever I’ve been able to take leave in August. We’ve also had a new injection of staff and I’m no longer the only childless person on the team.

Make of that what you will!

I prefer early September, holidays are quieter & cheaper, but if I had a reason to need time off in August that would be different.

Expecting you to handle everything by yourself is completely unreasonable though, @CleanShirt.

As a rule, I find if there's a few DM's in your work team they at least run dates by each other, or if it's a very popular time the manager arbitrates who asked first and gets the week off. I wonder if your male counterparts do the same? My money is on their wives booking the holiday, the men are supposed to book the time off work, they forget or presume it will be OK, and suddenly three weeks before they discover they all want the same week. I'm afraid they're much happier to brass you off @CleanShirt then go home and admit they didn't book their leave😂

@Daleksatemyshed I'd say you're bang on the money there. I literally had no idea it was happening til they'd all gone, then the wheels conveniently came off.