Manager won't give me time off for Christmas

AverageJoe12

Befor

Your Face

When I worked in Retail it was a given that no extra time off was given around Christmas time.

AverageJoe12

Your Face wrote: »

When I worked in Retail it was a given that no extra time off was given around Christmas time.

In any of my other jobs it wasn't a bother it's Stephens day so we only open for 6 hours and there's 5 other staff members who are available that's why I'm quit annoyed plus the managers are taking a week off each

Your Face

AverageJoe12 wrote: »

In any of my other jobs it wasn't a bother it's Stephens day so we only open for 6 hours and there's 5 other staff members who are available that's why I'm quit annoyed plus the managers are taking a week off each

It's not your other jobs though.
You should speak with your manager again and explain the situation in detail.

whoopsadoodles

Unfortunately, retail workers rarely get anything except Christmas day off during silly season as it's the busiest time of the year for the business.

The only real way you'd have a case is if someone there less time than you, who asked for the days off after you did, got the time off.

ted1

It's the busiest time of the year in retail. What do you expect ? T she the following week off and see your family

Tzardine

I have worked in management in a lot of retail over the years.

I have never found one organisation that allows holidays at the end of November and all through December. Its usually in your contract and they and perfectly entitled to do so. Christmas is the busiest time of the year for them afterall.

In your post you do not exactly come across as a great employee anyway to be honest, you sound quite young and immature. And for somebody that is there just 8 months you come across as sounding very entitled.

I would be careful how you handle the situation. You are most likely still in probation and you could be let go very easily.

AverageJoe12

whoopsadoodles wrote: »

Unfortunately, retail workers rarely get anything except Christmas day off during silly season as it's the busiest time of the year for the business.

The only real way you'd have a case is if someone there less time than you, who asked for the days off after you did, got the time off.

That's the thing that's exactly what happened a girl that started 2 months ago asks for 4 days off yesterday and she gets it not a bother

GalwayGrrrrrl

It's very rare to get time off over Christmas in retail - you are one of the new boys so you'll just have to get on with it this year.
You could (politely) ask if you can do a later shift on Stephens day if you need to travel back from home that morning.
Don't throw your job away over this- suck it up then when you are a manager you too can take a week off at Christmas.

armaghlad

OP is 19 of course they may be slightly immature... probably one of the busiest days of the year, maybe ask ahead what hours you are working so that you can plan ahead to get home to the fam asap

AverageJoe12

ted1 wrote: »

It's the busiest time of the year in retail. What do you expect ? T she the following week off and see your family

I can't the family are only over for 2 days and I expect to be treated fairly I just found out a girl that's been there 2 months got those days off after I asked ?

AverageJoe12

Tzardine wrote: »

I have worked in management in a lot of retail over the years.

I have never found one organisation that allows holidays at the end of November and all through December. Its usually in your contract and they and perfectly entitled to do so. Christmas is the busiest time of the year for them afterall.

In your post you do not exactly come across as a great employee anyway to be honest, you sound quite young and immature. And for somebody that is there just 8 months you come across as sounding very entitled.

I would be careful how you handle the situation. You are most likely still in probation and you could be let go very easily.

I am young but not immature I just know when I'm been treated like crap first off in the contract it does not state when holidays have to be taken, secondly the 2 managers have taken the week off and I dont mean to sound like a ass but if your the guy who does all the jobs in the place that nobody else does and work your ass just for your manager to give priority to a new girl who wants them days of and she only does a couple hours a week wouldn't you be annoyed ?

evolving_doors

AverageJoe12 wrote: »

That's the thing that's exactly what happened a girl that started 2 months ago asks for 4 days off yesterday and she gets it not a bother

Did she ask for the same days as you on St Stephens day?

Maybe ask for a different period off. Went is it only St. Stephens day that you can see family? Maybe they all congregate in the same area at that time!

your manager gets the week off + they say you are a good worker = make it your goal to become a manager (if they say you are good then it means you have potential).

dee_mc

It sounds like you just left it too late to request the time off. I've heard of people requesting their days off for Christmas in the previous January. Obviously this wasn't an option for you as you're so new to the job.
But in your more recent posts you mention another employee who has worked for the company for a shorter time than you being given the time off AFTER you asked and were refused - is that genuinely what happened?
Because if that's really what's happening you're being treated unfairly and should speak to your bosses about it.

AverageJoe12

Gebgbegb wrote: »

Did she ask for the same days as you on St Stephens day?

Maybe ask for a different period off. Went is it only St. Stephens day that you can see family? Maybe they all congregate in the same area at that time!

your manager gets the week off + they say you are a good worker = make it your goal to become a manager (if they say you are good then it means you have potential).

Ye but she told me they told her she couldn't have it off then I asked and they told me no and went back and told her that actually she could have it off ,Unfortunately yes every year the family gets together on Stephen's day and I usually cook the dinner kind of a tradition , Honestly it's not a place I see myself working long term just a way to make some cash at the moment

vandriver

AverageJoe12 wrote: »

I am young but not immature I just know when I'm been treated like crap first off in the contract it does not state when holidays have to be taken, secondly the 2 managers have taken the week off and I dont mean to sound like a ass but if your the guy who does all the jobs in the place that nobody else does and work your ass just for your manager to give priority to a new girl who wants them days of and she only does a couple hours a week wouldn't you be annoyed ?

It's precisely because you are hard working and dependable that the managers want you in on one of the busiest days.
Turn this thing around and think 'if a colleague who's been there for 2 months gets time off on one of the busiest days,what is the chance of them being kept on when it goes slow in the new year?'

AverageJoe12

vandriver wrote: »

It's precisely because you are hard working and dependable that the managers want you in on one of the busiest days.
Turn this thing around and think 'if a colleague who's been there for 2 months gets time off on one of the busiest days,what is the chance of them being kept on when it goes slow in the new year?'

I get your point and I appreciate your input also I dont mean to come across as a typical teenager but it's just the way they went about it they told her no then told me no then went back and told her yes she can have it off and there's also another 2 good workers that they could bring in that day but it's like the manager is just doing it to spite me recently he's been a asshole to all the employees even calling one girl fat recently

dee_mc

Re the girl who was given time off after you asked, you mentioned that she only does a few hours here and there, is it possible that she's not needed for the few days after Christmas because she's not used to having responsibility for opening and closing the shop etc?
In any case I doubt if you have a case here.
Your choices really are to suck it up and make arrangements to see your family at a different time, maybe making a new tradition (in my house we have a couple of family Christmas dinners from late November onwards because some of the family are not guaranteed time off over the silly season, so we never know if we can all get together during that time) ... or pack in the job and prepare to face 2017 unemployed.
I don't think there's any 100% easy and satisfactory solution though OP.

beertons

It's a small price to pay for being responsible. It's 6 hours, suck it up.

silverbolt

AverageJoe12 wrote: »

Before i get started please dont give me the "you should be greatful you have a job"i am i just feel majorly disrespected ,So i started a job about 8 months ago just a retail job nothing major it's my third job and I'm 19 anyway I'm full time and I break my back day in and day out for the shop the 2 managers always tell me I'm one of there hardest workers so I requested 2 days off around Christmas time to spend with the family who I only get to see at that time of the year and my manager just gives me a no doesn't even try offer a solution so I ask can he not find someone else to work Stephens day because that's the day i need the most he said he'll ask but it's 90 percent a no the reason im so annoyed is all the other staff take at least 5 days off a month no joke and he has no bother with that I've only ever asked for a weekend off so honestly I feel like just telling him if you can't give me the days off im going to leave spending time with my family means more to me then this job , anyone got any advice on what to do its a handy job I don't really want to leave but if that's how they treat there staff I dont want to be there anymore

Welcome to retail. Its a soul sucking draining horror story of a job.

And christmas is the busiest soul sucking time of the year. It doesnt care about your enjoyment, it doesnt care about your family or friends or children. It only cares about profit.

Tzardine

AverageJoe12 wrote: »

I am young but not immature I just know when I'm been treated like crap first off in the contract it does not state when holidays have to be taken, secondly the 2 managers have taken the week off and I dont mean to sound like a ass but if your the guy who does all the jobs in the place that nobody else does and work your ass just for your manager to give priority to a new girl who wants them days of and she only does a couple hours a week wouldn't you be annoyed ?

Fair enough it is not in your contract, but it does not have to be anyway.

I think you are actually making it up as you go along anyway.

You said there are two managers in the shop and they are both taking the whole week off at Christmas. I call bull.

Same as the way you never mentioned the other girl getting time off in the OP but all of a sudden its brought up when another poster suggested that it that happened it would be unfair.

You just sound cranky that you cant get the time off.

AverageJoe12

dee_mc wrote: »

Re the girl who was given time off after you asked, you mentioned that she only does a few hours here and there, is it possible that she's not needed for the few days after Christmas because she's not used to having responsibility for opening and closing the shop etc?
In any case I doubt if you have a case here.
Your choices really are to suck it up and make arrangements to see your family at a different time, maybe making a new tradition (in my house we have a couple of family Christmas dinners from late November onwards because some of the family are not guaranteed time off over the silly season, so we never know if we can all get together during that time) ... or pack in the job and prepare to face 2017 unemployed.
I don't think there's any 100% easy and satisfactory solution though OP.

Well she worked in a previous store belonging to the same branch for near a year then left and started back in ours so she's well trained in opening etc that's why I can't understand why they want me over her since she's more experienced also 2 other guys who work there are alot more experienced then me,Unfortunately alot of the family live abroad so I was hoping to see them this year but I guess I'll just have to say it to the manager again and try work something out but I have a feeling he's going to be stubborn about it

mr_edge_to_you

The colleague who has gotten two days off - is it possible she's only on a temporary contract? If not, they're still on probation period anyway. Either way, maybe the managers aren't keen on this person long-term.

Spent a few years working in retail and generally anyone who started from mid-August onwards was always on a short-term contract until 24/12. One or two hard working staff were kept on into the New Year.

Anyway, as a 19 year old working full-time in retail I wouldn't be rocking the boat too much over 1 day off, after which the whole sector goes through two months of a lull.

AverageJoe12

Tzardine wrote: »

Fair enough it is not in your contract, but it does not have to be anyway.

I think you are actually making it up as you go along anyway.

You said there are two managers in the shop and they are both taking the whole week off at Christmas. I call bull.

Same as the way you never mentioned the other girl getting time off in the OP but all of a sudden its brought up when another poster suggested that it that happened it would be unfair.

You just sound cranky that you cant get the time off.

Hardly making it up call it bull**** if you want it's the truth and yes there taking the week from Stephens day onwards off or one is taking that and the other the next,because I only found out she got it off when she replied to my message

duffman13

Having worked as a manager in retail I understand your frustration however most places have a ban on holidays over Xmas and to be fair to your manager ill be 99% sure you weren't the first to ask.

Scheduling for Xmas is the biggest stress of the year and at least your manager has given early rotas too. You've said yourself it's only 6 hours so I'd suck it up and move on. I've had staff both quit and be fired over Stephens Day over the years!

It's fine if you don't like it but if you can't suck it up look for a new job outside of retail

Tzardine

AverageJoe12 wrote: »

Hardly making it up call it bull**** if you want it's the truth and yes there taking the week from Stephens day onwards off or one is taking that and the other the next,because I only found out she got it off when she replied to my message

So she replied to your text message this morning between 0638 and 0735 letting you know that she got time off at Christmas.

Go on out of that.

seamus

AverageJoe12 wrote: »

Ye but she told me they told her she couldn't have it off then I asked and they told me no and went back and told her that actually she could have it off.

So she asked first, and she got it off. Standard rules for holidays in virtually every job on earth; first come, first served.

Honestly it's not a place I see myself working long term just a way to make some cash at the moment

Then quit. Work up to 21st December or thereabouts and then take a few weeks off and go looking for a new job.

They're your only options really. Your co-worker got there first in asking for the day off and your employer sets your holidays.

AverageJoe12

Tzardine wrote: »

So she replied to your text message this morning between 0638 and 0735 letting you know that she got time off at Christmas.

Go on out of that.

Yes Have you never replied to a message in the morning you received the night before ?

It's pretty common

Tzardine

AverageJoe12 wrote: »

Yes Have you never replied to a message in the morning you received the night before ?

It's pretty common

Its very coincidental and a little unbelievable when considered with the rest of your posts.

Lovely Bloke

Call in sick on Stephens' Day

AverageJoe12

Lovely Bloke wrote: »

Call in sick on Stephens' Day

Might aswell ring and say fire me please haha