should colleagues with kids get preference for holidays?

amus

MatyMoo wrote: »

or that it is OK to take a day off with minimal notice as a child is sick.



Sorry, but this one hits a nerve :rotfl:

And it really hits a nerve with me when people always bring this up on threads like these.

I work in an office of predominantly middle aged women and it is by far this age group that has the most time off, due to looking after ill/dying relatives.

Why is it that this is seen as ok but it is expected that somehow people with ill children can just magically sort out alternative arrangements.

It's this kind of attitude that breeds animosity. There needs to be consideration from all parties.

I hate the 'they chose to have kids so they should deal with it and I'll do whatever i want whether i need to or not' attitude just as much as i hate the 'i have kids so my needs should trump everyone else's' attitude.

catkins

Tygermoth wrote: »

As child free by choice I used to get hammered over christmas and for years and years never got it off - they thought i would like NYE because not having kids I would like to be out partying. (Not the case)

Every year (because it suited them) I never was asked just 'assumed' and did the rota up while i was off shift.

The SHTF when last year I pointed it out and advised i was due the time and one of the ladies threw a tantrum (foot stamping included) she felt, as i did not have kids i did not NEED the holiday and as such i ruined her Christmas. She was truly vile to me for weeks.

It really annoys me that if you don't have children people think you won't want Christmas off but will want New Year. I hate New Year and never really do anything but Christmas is a big deal in my family. We all get together and spend Christmas Day and Boxing Day together - we did this for years until I worked in retail and was told I could not have Boxing Day. I would not have expected it every year but never! So all my family spent two days together but me and OH had to leave Christmas Day evening at a reasonable time to get home and make sure I could get up in time for work. Also had to work Christmas Eve so generously only got one day. They gave me New Year but, as I say, we do nothing then. In fact I don't even bother to stay up to see the year in normally.

The parents were allowed Christmas Eve and Boxing Day needless to say

amus

catkins wrote: »

It really annoys me that if you don't have children people think you won't want Christmas off but will want New Year. I hate New Year and never really do anything but Christmas is a big deal in my family. We all get together and spend Christmas Day and Boxing Day together - we did this for years until I worked in retail and was told I could not have Boxing Day. I would not have expected it every year but never! So all my family spent two days together but me and OH had to leave Christmas Day evening at a reasonable time to get home and make sure I could get up in time for work. Also had to work Christmas Eve so generously only got one day. They gave me New Year but, as I say, we do nothing then. In fact I don't even bother to stay up to see the year in normally.

The parents were allowed Christmas Eve and Boxing Day needless to say

Bit OT but i don't think shops should be allowed to open on boxing day. The time for spending with family at xmas is overshadowed by people feeling the need to rush to the shops to get the best bargains, and for people like yourself having to work.

A sad consequence of greedy retailers rushing to be the first to open

SandC

amus wrote: »

Bit OT but i don't think shops should be allowed to open on boxing day. The time for spending with family at xmas is overshadowed by people feeling the need to rush to the shops to get the best bargains, and for people like yourself having to work.

A sad consequence of greedy retailers rushing to be the first to open

I so agree with you Amus. I'm not helping in any way but I make a point of never visiting any shop on Boxing Day and I wish others would follow suit. This is specifically and only because I feel that retail workers need the break probably more than the rest of us.

By the way, this does not detract from the fantastic work done by emergency services, staff in care home and those in the hospitality industry who are working when the rest of us are having fun.

*Beki*

"Luckily I've joined a new team where the one non-parent takes the view that I did before I had children, and is willing to work the few days we're open over Christmas so those of us with children can take the time off. The previous team I worked in, the only person who consistently had every single Christmas off for years was childless, and also turned on the tears when one year they couldn't have the Tuesday after Easter off so our manager came in off his leave to cover. And there were no "caring" responsibilities or teacher partners or anything to take into consideration. Just selfishness."

I think this is the point- why should childless people be made to feel guilty or "selfish" about taking whatever holidays they want? Why do you need to know what they're planning to do with that time- its totally personal. Their time off is no more or less important than yours. Perhaps in your specific example the person was taking the p***, but in general first come, first served should absolutely be the policy.

amus

*Beki* wrote: »

I think this is the point- why should childless people be made to feel guilty or "selfish" about taking whatever holidays they want? Why do you need to know what they're planning to do with that time- its totally personal. Their time off is no more or less important than yours. Perhaps in your specific example the person was taking the p***, but in general first come, first served should absolutely be the policy.

If it's first come first serve where do you draw the line?

I would just put in for every Christmas 10 years in advance to ensure i get a Christmas i may need off.

The way our work does it is to request annual leave off everybody for the year. They then look at the days which are over subscribed. People are then asked if they don't need those over subscribed days if they are willing to swap. If the days still end up over subscribed names are drawn out of a hat. Simple and fair to everyone IMO.

*Beki*

amus wrote: »

If it's first come first serve where do you draw the line?

I would just put in for every Christmas 10 years in advance to ensure i get a Christmas i may need off.

The way our work does it is to request annual leave off everybody for the year. They then look at the days which are over subscribed. People are then asked if they don't need those over subscribed days if they are willing to swap. If the days still end up over subscribed names are drawn out of a hat. Simple and fair to everyone IMO.

Well of course there has to be a limit on how far ahead you can book your leave, otherwise that's ridiculous.

I agree that everyone should have the opportunity to book whatever leave they would like, with no comments made on when that might be. And then, if there are any issues it should be approached fairly as you mention.

In the office I work in, I've not had any problems where too many people want to book the same time off, but then we're not allowed to book time over Christmas. When I worked offshore however, only two people were allowed leave at once, so you did have to be organised and book your time off as far in advance as you could, especially as my partner and I (who work for the same company) would want to be off at the same time, and therefore be those "two people".

**Patty**

amus wrote: »

Bit OT but i don't think shops should be allowed to open on boxing day. The time for spending with family at xmas is overshadowed by people feeling the need to rush to the shops to get the best bargains, and for people like yourself having to work.

A sad consequence of greedy retailers rushing to be the first to open

It's not just retail. You'd expect it from the hospitality trade at christmas but it comes from Logistics as well.

I've known my husband finish work at 6pm christmas eve & be back there 6pm boxing day evening.

At the time, we had 3 under 10.

amus

At the end of the day i think most people are reasonable and are able to work things out for themselves.

Its just the odd few that cause bad blood for everyone, there's the parents who think it is their right to have every Christmas off and there are the ones who will book holidays they don't need in the school holidays just to prove a point.

jellyhead

thorsoak wrote: »

Why would anyone who does not have children want to take their holidays during school holiday times when prices reach their zenith? Most parents would prefer not to - but childens' education needs must come first!

They might have a wedding to attend or want to go on holiday with other people who have restrictions - if they are teachers or have a forced shutdown, or grandparents want to go away with their children and grandchildren, or a couple want to go away for a special birthday or wedding anniversary etc.

My husband is the only person in the office who has children that aren't grown up. He doesn't get first dibs on holiday because everyone else has valid reasons for wanting the holiday times they are asking for. There are 2 other people he has to check with, and if either of them are away then he can't have the holiday - simple as that.

I think that if he was refused a certain date they would let him have first priority the following year though - they're considerate of each other and try to be fair about things.