Mum divides opinion after asking child-free colleague to work her Christmas Day shift

A woman and her colleague were asked by management to decide who was going to have Christmas day off – but one of them threatened to quit if she couldn’t have the day as a holiday

Christmas is a magical time for people of all ages. Whether you’re a child who believes in Santa, a teen who is keeping the magic alive, an adult who is excited to spend your first Christmas with your partner, or you’re a parent who is going the extra mile for your little ones, it’s so much fun.

One woman caused quite the stir, however, after she took to Mumsnet to admit that she’d asked her child-free colleague whether she would withdraw her holiday request for Christmas Day as she felt she was more entitled to it off because she’s a single mother.

She wrote: “Ok I feel terrible about this but me and my colleague who I get on with quite well normally have both requested Christmas day off but our manager has said that only one of us can have it off and that we need to sort it out.

“I have asked her to withdraw her request as she and her husband who have no kids normally go to her husband’s parents on Christmas day but they also go every week so it’s not like they never see them whereas I, on the other hand, have a four-year-old Autistic son.

“He normally goes to nursery but his nursery closes 1 week before Christmas and doesn’t open until next year the shift in question is a three hour shift between 7 and 10 in the morning so she and her husband could still be at his parents for lunchtime whereas because I am a single mama and the nurseries are closed I have no one to watch my son.

“Yes I could pay someone but it would be extremely expensive and he would most likely be very distressed with having someone he is unfamiliar with in his home, plus it would be difficult for the said person as my son is non-verbal.

“I do feel bad asking her to do this but if she won’t then I am going to have no choice but to leave my job.”

In the comments, people said that whoever asked for the holiday off first should get it, with some saying the woman was being unfair for thinking she should get the holiday off.

One fumed: “Oh yeah I forgot! If you don’t have children then Christmas and family means absolutely nothing to you!”

Another offered advice, commenting: “I would explain to her and ask her. If I was her I’d work it for you.”

Someone else wrote: “Why do you need to be in? Could you just be on call? I agree your situation seems more in need of the time off, however you are very wrong to dismiss her request just because she doesn’t have children.

“How closed-minded are you, her family is just as important, Christmas isn’t just for children. If she works this year then you need to do next year or the new year etc.

“In future you perhaps need to make alternate arrangements well in advance, or have a backup. You can’t assume you’ll have Christmas off every year forever.”

One Mumsnetter agreed, writing: “I think it is okay to ask because you are in a very difficult situation, however it is not ok to minimise her Christmas just because she has no child.”

Another said that the management at their company should’ve dealt with it, saying: “Your manager really needs to deal with this- both of your requests ought to be put in and they should consider each. It’s lazy management to ask you to decide amongst yourselves.”

What would you do in this situation? Let us know in the comments.