I am a young adult who works full time. I work in a place where most people are older than me. I asked for holidays off for this upcoming season and was told my requests off don’t matter as much because I don’t have children.
Mind you- I have friends and family of my own who I’d like to spend time with. Just because someone chose to have kids and then chose to still be a working parent does not mean much of anything to me. I don’t think it’s fair that I should have to work instead of my coworkers because I don’t have kids yet.
This is also not a critically important job. We don’t have to be working every single day of the year. I worked labour day weekend and was not able to spend time with friends or see family because I let the other people take it off so they could spend time with their kids before school started up again. This same courtesy is not even offered to me.
I will probably have to work Halloween, thanksgiving Christmas and new years this year because I don’t have kids. I work 5-6 days a week, 40-50+ hours and bend over backwards for my coworkers but if I ask for a weekend off (without dipping below 40 hours) I’m a nuisance.
Because I don’t have kids my free time and family are not held to the same standard and that doesn’t make sense to me.
Edit: I recognize that this issue is more about the management than my coworkers. Thank you all for pointing that out. Secondly, I also think if no one wants to work on a specific day (I.e. a holiday) then maybe this business shouldn’t be open on said day. This would be at no detriment to the business. I also have worked and picked up extra shifts on holidays for years in my career without an issue at previous jobs. I don’t mind working a holiday I do mind being the ONLY one working every holiday. And I also DO mind working holidays when I’m not providing an essential service.
I wrote this post when I was upset and angry. I will be having a discussion with my management team about this moving forward. I didn’t expect this to get so popular, so thank you for everyone that gave advice that was rational and professional.