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Original poster

Holiday grabbing colleagues

210 replies

Allshallbewell2021 · 01/04/2023 19:42

I work with a team of people and we can't all be on holiday at the same time. Last year two collleagues put in for holiday over Easter with no acknowledgment of the impact on me, I still have a school aged child and one colleague has kids grown up so doesn't have to take Easter holidays.
I have no problem with working it - I've taken a few days at the very end of the holidays when they have graciously returned; it's just the lack of courtesy, consideration or consultation. Or even thanks, just snooze you lose, screw you and your Easter.
It just feels shitty and I feel disrespected - but I can't decide the value of saying anything as these two clearly don't give a crap so what would I achieve. But it's really eating me up. I don't mind the work at all, everyone has a right to a holiday -
I just feel disrespected.
Any way - thanks for the opportunity to vent!

OP posts:
RandomMess · 01/04/2023 20:33

There are for more school holidays than you have annual leave.

You need to decide which ones you are going to use childcare for and which you have to prioritise getting your request in quick.

Lejuge28 · 01/04/2023 20:40

In my work it is whoever gets in 1st. The 1st year I missed out on the leave I wanted as I waited too long, every other year since I put in all my leave for the year as soon as the diary opens.

WombatBombat · 01/04/2023 20:41

I’d expect most working people, regardless of children, would want to maximise leave by booking off Easter, Christmas, May Bank Holiday when it’s half term, August Bank Holiday when it’s school holidays.

There’s not really a monopoly on working parents to get first dibs on having them off.

YoucancallmeJorgeDeGuzman · 01/04/2023 20:43

You will spend the entirety of your life feeling disrespected if you genuinely believe that people should consider your needs before their own, ever.

Coffeellama · 01/04/2023 20:44

Do you sulk when they book time off in august too?

PussBilledDuckyPlait · 01/04/2023 20:46

I'm childfree and I usually avoid booking annual leave during school holidays if I can - not from philanthropic motives, but because places I might want to go are more peaceful during term time, and if we want to stay anywhere, it's miles cheaper.

Unless they coincide with special occasions, I can't see really why anyone would book school holidays unless they had to. I get the 'extending bank holidays to a week' idea, but that doesn't change your total holiday allowance so the benefit is minimal.

MagentaRocks · 01/04/2023 20:47

You having school age kids is irrelevant. I don't but usually take time off in April. I have a school age niece I spend time with.

MotherOfLunatics · 01/04/2023 20:56

Entitled much?
No-one needs to consult you before booking their annual leave.

MajorCarolDanvers · 01/04/2023 20:58

YABU

Get your holidays in first.

Having children doesn't entitle you to special holiday privileges.

rainbowunicorn · 01/04/2023 21:01

You sound ridiculous OP. If it was so important to you why didn't you book sooner. I can't believe you actually expect colleagues to consult with you about when they take holiday

ActDottie · 01/04/2023 21:03

You having kids doesn’t trump them taking holiday. Just get in there earlier next time

UsingChangeofName · 01/04/2023 21:05

"Disrespected" ?? Hmm

Like most, I don't understand why - if it is (understandably) important to you that you have the school holidays - you don't book the time you need as soon as the holiday booking system opens for you.
No-one owes it to you to hold off on booking their holiday because you haven't done so.

BloodyThursday · 01/04/2023 21:05

We work in a team of six and we are allowed three people off at any one time. We have three people with school age children and two with grown up children but are married to teachers. Interestingly the last person is the one to book the whole of the two weeks off. But, we don't have to consider or consult anyone when booking A/L.

If it's really important to you then you need to get in there first.

BelindaMelinda · 01/04/2023 21:09

Disrespected is such an odd feeling to have over this.

I used to work in a team where holidays were first come first served. I missed some days I wanted once as someone got in first. I felt annoyed, sure. Irritated. A bit jealous.

But disrespected? Why would you feel that? Do you feel your holiday plans somehow deserve others' respect?

transformandriseup · 01/04/2023 21:11

Last year two collleagues put in for holiday over Easter with no acknowledgment of the impact on me

I have young children and don't expect my colleagues to consider the impact on me when booking holiday at all.

HunterHearstHelmsley · 01/04/2023 21:11

YABU. I've just put my dates in for next Easter as we're going away for a family birthday. We do first come first served. Nothing has stopped anyone else putting in for those dates before me.

catmum654 · 01/04/2023 21:12

Sorry if you are not organised enough it's not their fault.

I always request annual leave as soon as school holidays are notified. However as a manager I do ensure that the team all have an opportunity to share our the school holidays and actually prefer it if they arrange cover between themselves.

Regularsizedrudy · 01/04/2023 21:13

You snooze you lose

HoneyPotBee · 01/04/2023 21:15

I worked with a grabby ‘I have kids’ type who thought they were entitled to holidays or should be thanked for letting other people have days off during school holidays. Thankfully our manager didn’t indulge her.

Wheelz46 · 01/04/2023 21:15

But it is a case of you snooze you lose, if a holiday is that important to you, you put them in early enough to try and secure the dates you want.

I always request the majority of my entitlement at the beginning of the new holiday year, leaving sufficient for emergencies etc. I would never consult my colleagues and would not expect them to consult me either.

Booking holidays in advance with consulting colleagues is not disrespectful, I respect the people who I work with. I would expect them to also respect my choice for ensuring, I don't have any childcare issues by booking my holidays well in advance.

HunterHearstHelmsley · 01/04/2023 21:16

Greensleevevssnotnose · 01/04/2023 19:56

Or holiday is booked online. People used to come in on NYD to book for the year to get the time they wanted. Snooze you lose

I got screwed on holiday at an old workplace years ago as I wasn't told I needed to book on 1st January.

Following year, I set an email to send at 00:01 on NYD. Got all the best dates.

VioletViolets · 01/04/2023 21:16

There are other reasons why people need that time off you know! I’ve booked some days to see my nieces and nephews for a (non-Christian) religious holiday, for example.

pinkfondu · 01/04/2023 21:19

People book holiday via tge correct process shocker

PinkSyCo · 01/04/2023 21:21

You need to turn your anger in on yourself for not being more on the ball OP. Of course no-one’s going to sit back and patiently wait to book their holidays while their colleagues take their time in choosing theirs.

grayhairdontcare · 01/04/2023 21:23

Organise your time better and book dates off well in advance.
Having children does not make you any more special than others.