should colleagues with kids get preference for holidays?

Tiglath

I don't have kids but am married to a teacher. If we were to go on holiday together, it would be when all the schookids are on holiday as well and the prices are hiked up, so kind of pointless! I generally let colleagues with kids have the school holidays, and I have the odd couple of days with DH when I can. I did lots of travelling when I was younger and find 'going on holiday' very stressful. I actually prefer to take time off on my own - I automate the evening meals as much as possible and do my own thing during the day, even if it's just at home sorting out paperwork or springcleaning. God I lead a boring life ... anyway, I don't resent parents snaffling the school holidays; it suits me. If it were necessary, I'm sure my current team would all work together to try to find a fair solution for everyone.

pinkshoes

Those WITHOUT children should get first pick, but can only choose dates outside the school holidays!

Sambucus_Nigra

onlyroz wrote: »

:rotfl: Name me one school that lets teachers go on holiday during term time?

Yes, that's my point.

mysk_girl

sazzybum wrote: »

However, other teams aren't so lucky-we even had one girl go to HR and DEMAND 6 weeks off in the summer as she didn't have childcare, she was going to take 'em to court etc etc, saying it was her 'right' as a mother and all that guff. It's these sort of people who cause ill feeling amongst colleagues.

And give working mothers a bad name. She's effectively asking for flexible working, term time hours. And she certainly has the right to request it, but one of the legitimate reasons for refusal is "needs of the business", which includes holiday cover. Childcare issues and working go hand in hand, I struggle especially with sick children - but it's MY problem and not the businesses.

sazzybum

mysk_girl wrote: »

And give working mothers a bad name. She's effectively asking for flexible working, term time hours. And she certainly has the right to request it, but one of the legitimate reasons for refusal is "needs of the business", which includes holiday cover. Childcare issues and working go hand in hand, I struggle especially with sick children - but it's MY problem and not the businesses.

Exactly my point Mysk. She;d just returned from 3 weeks off too..in which she had posed for pictures in 'Nuts' magazine..and had posted on FB that she wanted to go to Turkey to pose for more..a-hem..'tasteful' nekkid pictures..wonder who was going to babysit for her when she was away getting her baps out..:rotfl:

NoreenOMS

MatyMoo wrote: »

I get a bit fed up of people with children thinking they should have first dibs on time off during school holidays or that it is OK to take a day off with minimal notice as a child is sick.

comments like this make me so angry- maybe more so as this has happened to me this week. What exactly do you suggest parents of I'll children do other than take time off work if their child is ill? I am all ears to your suggestions?!

OrkneyStar

Before we had our son folk moaned when I wanted hols during the school break, but I then pointed out that as DH works in a school, we were also restricted to school holiday times. I am not working now, so thankfully don't have all that to fret about....I feel sorry for folk trying to juggle, though I know I will have to do it all again at some point!

Spendless

Personally I don't see the issue. What if 2 people WITHOUT children both wanted the same weeks? There must be some sort of precedence for who takes priority, whether that is 1st come, 1st served, seniority, taking it in turns who gets first choice, name out of a hat. Whatever the criteria is at the workplace should apply to all employees.

sillygoose

I was mortified when kids reached school age and for 1st time ever had to find a holiday during school break - the expensive is astonishing compared to any other time. What amazes me is there are still older people where I work who's kids are long grown up and gone who still holiday the same time each year out of habit.

I do think everyone should have a free choice on principle - but if people that had no fixed reason such as kids, grandkids or teacher partners etc. avoided booking during school hols it would ease the bun fight over places to stay and ease prices a bit.

jackomdj

NoreenOMS wrote: »

MatyMoo wrote: »

I get a bit fed up of people with children thinking they should have first dibs on time off during school holidays or that it is OK to take a day off with minimal notice as a child is sick.

comments like this make me so angry- maybe more so as this has happened to me this week. What exactly do you suggest parents of I'll children do other than take time off work if their child is ill? I am all ears to your suggestions?!

I work and I am lucky to have an understandable employer (plus a work laptop at home with connections to work system) however I have friends who don't work due to issues finding an appropriate job to fit in with child care. For one this is fine as their OH supports them, however in some instances it falls to the state. If employers and colleagues were more willing to be flexible I am sure many parents would get a job and be less reliant on benefits.