Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Work

Chat with other users about all things related to working life on our Work forum.

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:
Mycathatesmecuddling · 03/04/2023 00:44

Hawkins003 · 03/04/2023 00:33

If I've read your response correctly, if she was at least willing to book the easter, early then it gives her a chance and it's nice of the colleagues to give the op, the option, even if then the company says no one can have Easter ect

Show quote history

But you keep seeming to think that her colleagues arent being 'nice' or wont let her take her turn at Easter etc, as if they are somehow being selfish

So if I go to my calender tomorrow and I want a week in October off, and no one has it booked off, am I selfish for booking it? Am I not being nice?

If it then turns out it was Ocotber half term and a colleague did want it, but wasnt willing to book it until August is that my fault? Am I not taking turns correctly?

I have to work our holidays around my DHs on call schedule. Which means if I want a holiday in October it might fall on half term. Is that me being mean, or not taking my turn correctly?

The OP hasnt said she can't get Easter off. Shes indicated she expects her colleagues to wait and see until the last minute whether or not she even wants it. She hasnt even spoken to them about it so she is expecting them to be mindreaders and know that she might want it without her saying it.

You seem very determined that her colleagues are somehow being selfish here, but honestly unless this is a fortune telling company Im not sure how they could be acting differently.

Mycathatesmecuddling · 03/04/2023 00:46

monsteramunch · 03/04/2023 00:36

@Hawkins003

But theres literally no indication at all that the OP wouldnt be able to get Easter off if she was willing to book it

Yes there is.

I often don't know until February if my dh will be able to get away over Easter.

The quote was from my post. The point I was making is that that poster seems to think the colleagues arent letting the OP have a turn at taking easter off regardless of when she booked it, as if if she booked in earlier when no one else was off it would be turned down, when the reality is we dont know thats the case and it probably isnt.

BungleandGeorge · 03/04/2023 00:55

Are you saying that your colleagues shouldn’t be able to book holiday until a month or two before the date just in case you might decide you want it? That is really unreasonable. They appear to have stuck to the booking policy so you have no cause for complaint

Hawkins003 · 03/04/2023 01:19

Mycathatesmecuddling · 03/04/2023 00:44

But you keep seeming to think that her colleagues arent being 'nice' or wont let her take her turn at Easter etc, as if they are somehow being selfish

So if I go to my calender tomorrow and I want a week in October off, and no one has it booked off, am I selfish for booking it? Am I not being nice?

If it then turns out it was Ocotber half term and a colleague did want it, but wasnt willing to book it until August is that my fault? Am I not taking turns correctly?

I have to work our holidays around my DHs on call schedule. Which means if I want a holiday in October it might fall on half term. Is that me being mean, or not taking my turn correctly?

The OP hasnt said she can't get Easter off. Shes indicated she expects her colleagues to wait and see until the last minute whether or not she even wants it. She hasnt even spoken to them about it so she is expecting them to be mindreaders and know that she might want it without her saying it.

You seem very determined that her colleagues are somehow being selfish here, but honestly unless this is a fortune telling company Im not sure how they could be acting differently.

Show quote history

The easiest way to know who prefers which dates is to have a group, chat at the beginning of the year or as and when the holidays need to be allocated, so then everyone is on the same page, and then the op would need to say she would prefer Easter this year before anyone has made plans ect. Regardless of weather her dh, can get the same dates.

Mycathatesmecuddling · 03/04/2023 01:25

Hawkins003 · 03/04/2023 01:19

The easiest way to know who prefers which dates is to have a group, chat at the beginning of the year or as and when the holidays need to be allocated, so then everyone is on the same page, and then the op would need to say she would prefer Easter this year before anyone has made plans ect. Regardless of weather her dh, can get the same dates.

Show quote history

Or she could just book the holiday like a normal person

This doesnt need group chats or new processes or complicated procedures. She either needs to book the holiday in good time or accept someone else will have got there first.

And quite frankly a group chat is a nightmare waiting to happen. I don't expect to have to get my colleagues agreement and then my managers agreement before I book holiday, I book it and if there is a conflict its my managers job to sort it out, but the only person who needs to agree it is my manager not the whole team. I've worked in teams of up to 40 where this kind of group chat would have desended into chaos and is totally unnecessary

BleepBipBoop · 03/04/2023 03:02

Allshallbewell2021 · 02/04/2023 11:17

Because my family circumstances make my holidays far less predictable. I often don't know until February if my dh will be able to get away over Easter.
But you must mean I book ahead regardless dog in the manger style?

So you expect your colleagues to wait until February to make their Easter plans just in case you might be able to take a holiday at that time? YABVVVVU

<off to read the inevitable backpedal/drip feed response>

latetothefisting · 03/04/2023 09:02

Hawkins003 · 03/04/2023 00:26

and once the days are locked in then they stay locked in.

I've never worked anywhere where you can't cancel your leave once you've changed your mind, so can't imagine this would be popular. I'm not even sure it's legal!

The group chat someone suggested is also a ridiculous idea

Why go ott making up increasingly complicated rules, you're never going to please everyone! Just get organised as early as possible and develop good relationships with your colleagues so that there's a bit of give and take.

creamyterror · 03/04/2023 10:42

latetothefisting · 03/04/2023 09:02

I've never worked anywhere where you can't cancel your leave once you've changed your mind, so can't imagine this would be popular. I'm not even sure it's legal!

The group chat someone suggested is also a ridiculous idea

Why go ott making up increasingly complicated rules, you're never going to please everyone! Just get organised as early as possible and develop good relationships with your colleagues so that there's a bit of give and take.

Show quote history

Oh I'd imagine that is perfectly legal.

maddy68 · 03/04/2023 11:19

They have as much right to those holidays as you do. It's first come first served. Be first

Blanketpolicy · 03/04/2023 13:33

Allshallbewell2021 · 02/04/2023 20:23

Sorry, I shouldn't have posted this. I understand what everyone's saying. I don't have any problem with them taking it, I don't want them to wait, it's just my boss should be the one overseeing a fair share regardless and she is the worst at putting herself first. I don't think they don't have the right, and first come first serve is the system; I simply object to her lack of consideration. It's just my opinion, it was naive of me to expect more from my boss.

Realistically what could your boss do, or what do you expect your boss to do, to make it fair if even if they gave you first choice you don't know if or when you want off?

The problem is your dh not being able to book in advance, not your boss or the approach to holidays.

New posts on this thread. Refresh page