40-year-old woman denied leaves asks why employees with children are treated better

Many had fun celebrating Christmas with their families and loved ones. However, for some, the festive season was not as joyful, as it often brings emotional challenges. This was also the case for one woman when a newly appointed manager imposed a new schedule at her 24/7 workplace, leaving her feeling lost during the holidays. While other colleagues were busy with celebrations, the childless employee—who goes by @boogiewoogie24 on Mumsnet—was tasked with working late on Christmas Eve, simply because she did not have children. The post featured the emotional woman expressing her feelings after her new manager asked her to report to work during the holidays.

The almost 40-year-old shared that she typically worked Wednesday to Sunday one week and Wednesday to Friday the next, never working on Mondays or Tuesdays. “This year we have a new manager, and we've been told that apart from Christmas Day and Boxing Day, we have to work our normal shifts,” the UK-based office worker wrote.

Additionally, she and her colleagues were permitted to work either on Christmas or Boxing Day. “I work in a 24/7 sector, so Christmas Day is a normal working day,” she explained, claiming her boss assigned her the duty on Christmas Eve, which falls on Tuesday this year.

Among the three other employees who typically work the Tuesday late shift, two were treated leniently based on their parental status. “(They) were allowed to either finish earlier than the normal finish hour of 11 pm or were given the day off,” the post added.

The third employee was happy to work on Christmas Eve as her kids were old enough to stay home alone. When the woman questioned the manager’s decision requiring her to work on Tuesday until 11 pm, the response she received was shocking: “You don’t have kids.” The remark struck a raw nerve, as she admitted to having had three miscarriages over the past ten years of trying for a baby.

“I'm one of only three people who work at my place who don't have children. The other two are in their early 20s, so plenty of time for them to have children in the future,” she said. “I also had to work both Christmas and Boxing Day because it was Jane's first Christmas as a mum, so she got both days off. Jill had her kids that year, and since they were with their dad the previous year she also got both days off,” the woman added. Her other colleague, Mary, traveled to Scotland to visit her family. “No doubt Sue and Karen went off sick like normal,” the heartbroken employee remarked, suggesting she had to bear the responsibility when others were not around.

“I'm rambling I know. But basically, I'm being penalized for being unable to have children. It doesn't matter that I find Christmas incredibly hard and painful,” the woman concluded, inviting reactions to her outburst. Showing their support, @Itisjustmyopinion commented, “You are not being unreasonable and years ago, I had a manager say something similar to me. He ended up being disciplined and getting a formal warning after I reported him for it.” “Well in my twenties, I was in a similar position and would have to work around Xmas. Now I’m in my thirties and have children, I work it less,” @ByHardyRubyEagle agreed.