Christmas and unpaid leave

orangeballoons

I'm due to work christmas day and boxing day this year, sucks, but part of the job i know.
I'm really not wanting to miss out on Christmas with my little ones this year (again) so I'm thinking of taking unpaid parental leave. I work in a care home, policy is that people cannot take annual leave Christmas week. 
I would like to put in for unpaid parental leave instead, I wonder if anyone in similar positions have had success? In terms of Employer not refusing it.
Many thanks!

beckstar1975

At our employers (and I think this is across the board) the unpaid parental leave can only be taken in full weeks unless you have a child with disabilities. And it can be refused due to business needs like any other leave (but they can suggest an alternative).

elsien

As an ex care Home manager, I would be saying no to your unpaid request. It isn’t just the money, it’s having the bodies to work on the days that no-one else wants to work.
Getting agency in to cover your shift will also cost them more. It also sets a precedent  and is likely to cause bad feeling for other people who’ve had leave turned down. Either that or a rush of people trying to get unpaid leave next year. 

Have you checked to see if any staff can swap with you?  I had staff who would happily work Christmas if it meant they could have New Year off for example,

What length are your shifts and what time do they start? Could you be at home when your children open the presents for example, and work later instead? 

Pollycat

Probably more approximate to employment board...

orangeballoons

elsien said:

As an ex care Home manager, I would be saying no to your unpaid request. It isn’t just the money, it’s having the bodies to work on the days that no-one else wants to work.
Getting agency in to cover your shift will also cost them more. It also sets a precedent  and is likely to cause bad feeling for other people who’ve had leave turned down. Either that or a rush of people trying to get unpaid leave next year. 

Have you checked to see if any staff can swap with you?  I had staff who would happily work Christmas if it meant they could have New Year off for example,

What length are your shifts and what time do they start? Could you be at home when your children open the presents for example, and work later instead? 

Thanks for your reply. You said about the bodies to work, however there is people available to work as there is no one on annual leave. Our manager always over staffs us on Christmas day (10 as opposed to 7)
Shift swaps aren't allowed. 
I start 7am, finish 8pm, so no wiggle room there either. 

ButterCheese

Do you not have a rota?  It does seem odd that everyone has to work Christmas Day every year.  What were the terms in your employment contract that you signed when you started?  If you have no recourse then I've heard of other people having Christmas Day on a different day instead.  Not ideal, but in some professions you have to make workarounds

sheramber

You must take a whole week off, unless your employer agrees otherwise. A ‘week’ is your normal amount of days you work in 7 days.

Your employer can refuse if last k of staff will cause disruption to working.

How many others could apply for parental leave over Christmas?  The restriction may be because too many want off and it causes arguments as to who can be off and who can’t. 

Many people have to work Christmas Day. It is part of their job. 

e.g. Nurse, doctors, ambulance personnel., police, catering staff.

You must have known about the restriction in your job. 

gwynlas

Having been a manager this seems fair to me as all staff are treated equally with a larger number lightening the overall load and creating more time for your residents.

As a single person there was always an idea that those with young families should be given the day off which is fine if everyone in agreement but can be unfair to singletons who also wwish to celebrate holidays

Exodi

Inevitably the request would be declined by the employer, as it would otherwise cause a loophole for all people with children to abuse.

How small are your little ones? Could you just celebrate Christmas on the 24th or 27th instead - if they're single digit ages, they probably wouldn't even know the difference.

My wife works for Border Force, and is often required to work Christmas, it's not a secret and we just plan around it. Her bosses aren't wet behind the ears to an employee claiming parental leave or a doctors appointment on Christmas day or some nonsense, they've heard it a thousands times before. If they allowed it once, everyone would request it

elsien

It is refreshing  to see an employer putting more staff on so that residents can have a better Christmas.

I never  went with giving the people with children priority. Family Is equally important to many other people whether they have children or not. 

saajan_12

When is your nearest day off before / after Xmas? Can you go through the celebrations on that day? Assuming its within the kids holidays, it  wont really make a difference to them - they still get to celebrate and talk about it with their friends after. If they're really little they won't have any idea what day it is anyway. IMO the only real issue is when you're planning to visit wider family who are doing it on the day.. but that could be whether or not you have kids.