To be shit scared I'll loose my job

[SunshineInCorwall]

We have a first come, first served for Christmas and if you work one Christmas Day you get the next off. Most of our team have children under 8.

This year its my turn to work. Howver, that every other Christmas I've been due to work recently, there has been some emergency and I've had to call in a day or so nefore Christmas. Kids sick, DH sick, you know real life!

Just overheard two colleagues seriously talking about whether they "take the hit now" and offer to swap with me now or which one will be on call to cover me over Christmas, so they can manage expectations for their kids, they seemed really worried as noth have had to step in on a previous Christmas. Our team leader also overheard and just said to them that she's "aware" and will move heaven and to protect their break. (she's already working running the whole dept over Christmas so won't see her children at all, so not sure what that means)

I'm shit scared that something will happen and I will loose my job. What can I do? My husband is wonderful but useless so can't leave him to anything.

Would you quietly approach colleagues and ask them to swap?

your husband is a grown man. He needs step up and deal with any emergencies so you can work. Stop excusing his incompetence.

Is your dh an adult?

Would you quietly approach colleagues and ask them to swap?
Absolutely not! I would move hell and high water to work my Christmas shift, especially if I've pulled out of my last one (or 2? 3?)
Your poor colleagues!

How about putting in place contingency plans so you can work?

Why couldn't your husband look after the sick kids on previous years? And why did you need to stay home if he was sick?
I think you need to start planning for any emergencies now so that you don't compromise your ability to attend work, and also accept that this is how your colleagues view you and the only way to change that is to prove you are not unreliable.

I cant believe you actually think its ok to ruin someone else's Christmas sonyou can have it off again and that yoyr husband being useless is an acceptable excuse.

Although your reasons might have been true, I can't blame them for being worried from what you wrote.
It doesn't really sound like they're bitching from your OP it sounds like they just don't want to work on their Christmas?
You need to get someone else to look after them because people do get suspicious even if it's genuine

Don't take the piss again this year. Have some respect for your co-workers.

Your husband has to step up and you have to fulfil your obligations.

Is your DH a child?

Erm, no!
I'd tell my husband to grow up and take responsibility for any issues while I went to work.

Can you have a relative on standby in case DH is sick? (Realise not everyone can!). If a kid is sick then surely your DH just sorts it and you go in to work?.

If that was me I'd be reassuring my colleagues that I'll be there on Christmas Day and neither of them will need to worry.

Tell your husband to grow up and step up.

Its unacceptable to call in Xmas day except for real emergencies. I don't blame your colleagues for complaining. My own Dad died whilst I was on shift Xmas day and I had to continue to work until cover arrived.

If you've rang in on the Christmases you've supposed to have worked you really need to make sure you work the one you're due to this year. Otherwise I imagine you would be facing disciplinary action at work.

You're the flakey colleague that can't be relied on. Most workplaces have one. If you want to change that reputation you do not ask a colleague to cover now just in case, you get your shit together and sort out your husband's defects so he can step-up if required.

This.

Honestly, I'd hate to work with you and would probably wish you lost your job. It's harsh, I know but I never understand how people get away for being so unreliable when it matters.

If you have a husband why are you calling in sick if the kids are ill? I'd only call in sick if my husband was hospitalised or really unwell.

It's understandable why they're pissed off isn't it?

I'm confused - why do you want to swap? The chances are no one will be sick surely?

I cannot believe your solution is to make 100% sure you ruin their Christmas. Get a grip OP. You're working Christmas, stop trying to get out of it.

Oh ffs are you married to a three year old?

As others have said you ensure that you work Christmas this year without any excuse to get out of it. I'm not sure what the comment about your DH means. Does it mean you have called in sick to take care of a sick child rather than leave him to care for a sick child? Stop being that person at work that pisses everyone off.

Unbelievable , you seriously think that being unreliable gets you out of working Christmas when it’s your turn . Your husband being useless is your problem nobody else’s and if you do have to call in sick take / take parent leave at Christmas take it from me no one will believe it’s genuine .

You deserve to get sacked. I bet your colleagues wish you were.

If you work every other and you've called in such the last two you're meant to have work, I should hope you've foregone your scheduled Christmas off years in between. You sound like a nightmare as a colleague.