should colleagues with kids get preference for holidays?

bluenoseam

It would depend on who put the request in first, but if the non-child person put it in first then they get the holiday, any other stance than that would have a grievance put in immediately.

F_Bear

No they shouldn't get first priority. It should be whoever asks first gets it.

not a big fan of this method, all our date requests have to be in by end oct so everyone has a chance to get there dates in.

first come, first served isnt viable. people would just book further and further in advance, then agrue who booked first!

Why would anyone who does not have children want to take their holidays during school holiday times when prices reach their zenith?

most people wouldnt but its about choice, is it right that your holiday choices are reduced if you dont have kids?

Brighton_belle

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!

Perhaps if they are single and childless, they might have the opportunity to go away with their sister and her children and have some fun family time? Or their best friend is a teacher and rather than holiday alone...again, they what to go away for aweek together walking in the Alps....
Or a writing holiday with an author they adore and admire has been schedule in August...

Sambucus_Nigra

thorsoak wrote: »

Why would anyone who does not have children want to take their holidays during school holiday times when prices reach their zenith?

Because they are teachers? Or partners of teachers? Or relatives of school children?

A holiday is a holiday - booking holiday first should not be a priority for those who have children but those that book it off first. If everyone books it off at the same time and there is a clash, then people should have to take turns on who gets it first.

Torry_Quine

meritaten wrote: »

I agree with Torrey - if you are not particularly bothered when you take your holidays then fine! but, surprise surprise, even those without children may only want to take thier holiday time at school holiday times!
personally OH books outside the school holidays and that is fine by me! It isnt so that the people with kids can take this time - but its soooo much quieter then!

I'll let you off on my name as we agree.

lostinrates

It makes sense for a positive working atmosphere to consider other people's needs if the group is small enough.

Christmas is rarely a problem, but when it has been I used to be happy to let colleagues spend it with their children, and dh the same on the occasions he has work over this period.

Similarly, dh who works long hours often works all nighter sessions to get work done and would rather work mon to thurs with just enough time to eat and nap if it means he does not have to work weekends in the office but rather from home, because for work he stays away from home. Where as often colleagues with children would often rather get home and get their kids from what ever their childcare arrange ments are and work a few weekend hours when their partner can be with the kids.

If it doesn't work out, we accept it's tough on us if it doesn't work out, but it's nicer if consideration can be given to what arrangements work well for the whole team.

Tigsteroonie

It's all very well saying "first come first served" but that results in a bit of a bun-fight where I work - the minute they can, literally on arrival at work after January 1st, people are booking days off around the following Christmas. It's a bit rotten if you're scheduled on the 9:30am start that day and your colleague starts at 8:30am.

Back in the spring, I foolishly agreed that I wouldn't take extended holiday this year and instead would allow a colleague to take the full festive fortnight so that she could go 'home' (abroad). Due to her circumstances changing, she no longer wishes to go home - but she is refusing to relinquish the a/leave now that it is booked.

aliasojo

miduck wrote: »

What about those that wish to holiday with a partner/ friend who works in a school?

There will never be a perfect system that fits all situations.

All people can do (imo) is to be as understanding and considerate to others as possible, rather than only ever taking a hardline stance about their 'rights' to holiday when they want (rather than need to).

Clearly there will be situations that it's not possible to consider alternative times.

peachyprice

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!

Perhaps they look after their grandchildren to help out their son/daugher. Perhaps their partner works in education. Perhaps they want to holiday with other family members who do have children. Perhaps they're just masochists.

Either way, people with children shouldn't ge given perference over those without. No-one should have to justify when they want to take their holidays. First come, first served, if anyone is kind enough to swap, all well and good, but why should those without children be dictated to by those with?

Oh, and this year my OH couldn't have any time off over summer so we went on holiday without him, not sure about next year, but if he doesn't have any time allocated over summer holidays and there's no-one to swap well go in February, June or October half terms. It's no big deal.

Silaqui

scottishchick27 wrote: »

I think if it's in the holidays then those with kids should get them first. I'm not just saying that because I have a daughter, before she was born I gave those with kids first choice. Holidays are generally cheaper out of kids holidays anyway.

hieveryone wrote: »

I agree, those with children should be given first priority. Sorry if that sounds harsh, but schools in some regions really hammer people for taking children out of school, so the option is get wrists slapped by the LA or not have a holiday.

My OH has to take on call duties over Christmas and New Year, and he always swaps with the guys who have kids if they get landed with the Christmas Day shift.

PS to clarify, I'm talking about young children.

Sorry to pick on you two, but you were the first replies of this nature - I know there have been others.

I completely disagree with this. My husband and I have no children, and do not particularly want them. I'm a teacher, so can only have school holidays off.

A few years ago, we wanted to go and visit my grandma who lived in Germany, as she had deteriorating health and she hadn't seen us since we had got engaged. We decided to try and go during the May half term, and as it was October at the time, we thought it would be fine for OH to book this week off as holiday.

He was the first person to ask for that week as leave, but was told that they wouldn't be able to grant it to him yet because "plenty of people with kids work here and they will need the half term off". He argued that they presumably know that they have kids, and so should have got holidays booked in as soon as the dates because available (like he was doing) and was fobbed off with more excuses and basically told that he could only take holiday in term time to leave the holidays free for the parents. By this company's logic, my husband and I would never be able have time off together, as I am not allowed to take time off in term time.

Still makes my blood boil thinking about it now!