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Is picking up the extra shift, the Saturday nobody wants, up to the young people every time?
This question has been on my mind a lot lately as it has been impacting people I know and love.
Working on weekends has never been a huge problem for me. Most of the events I write about on weekends are fun to attend or are very necessary to cover. That being said, I sometimes need a break. So do we all.
I was reading one of those "Am I the A-Hole?" stories the other day. The person asked if they were the A-Hole for saying no when someone asked them to cover the weekend shift so they could spend time with their kids. They, for reference, are younger and childless. In their essay, they say they just got engaged and were planning on having a family get-together to celebrate it. When they told the person they wouldn't cover their shift, the person got angry accusing them of being lazy. They also told them they should be available to take the shift because they don't have kids.
This, I have a problem with. In a way this says that people who don't have children are obligated to take on the extra work, as if to imply that people who don't have kids don't have things to do besides work.
Speaking as someone who doesn't yet have kids, we have priorities and obligations besides kids. Also, why does there need to be a legitimate reason not to cover the extra shift?
I also wonder if young people suddenly become exempt from covering the extra shift when they do have a kid. I should think not, but again I don't have kids yet.
Personally, I think the best way to have extra shifts covered, especially on weekends, is to alternate responsibility from person to person each weekend. That way one person isn't stuck with it. Make concessions for special occasions and such as well.
I'll leave it you readers to decide what is right in this kind of situation. What do you think?
