A UK woman named Chloe sparked an online debate after her request for leave on Christmas was rejected by her manager, who said she would accommodate colleagues with young children, the New York Post reported. The incident, posted on TikTok, went viral across social media platforms, with users giving mixed opinions on this long-standing issue: whether employees with young children should have priority at the workplace.
Chloe shared her experience online, explaining that she requested time off around the Christmas holiday months in advance. She submitted it in mid-September. But her operations manager, Sarah, turned it down, saying that the company would prioritise employees who have children.
“We have several team members with young children who may also need time off over Christmas, so I need to make sure it’s allocated fairly,” the manager reportedly responded.
“Christmas is for everyone. Having kids doesn’t give you priority.
Chloe then told her boss that she had already made plans with her family “based on requesting early”. “I requested the dates first, so I just wanted to check if having children means someone else’s Christmas plans take priority over mine?” she asked. I think this should come under discrimination,” one user reportedly said.
