When I joined this company back in June, I requested the time off in July on the "Company Calendar"...I did know about the "black out" period for December....what i thought it meant is that you were not GUARANTEED the time off, but now know it meant NO TIME OFF!! (So I cannot even switch shifts because every other manager has to work as well)
Like you Hug I have done this for the past 8 years...and i understand that it is "retail" (which is all they seem to be repeating to me...), however i chose retail, and stayed in it, because it was what accommodated my hours when the kids were much younger.
No children don't understand...but i know it has long term effects that you were "never there"....and then comes the day when you do have time for them...and they seem to be "never there".....
I feel i'm a good manager, and i believe they think that as well, I've even offered up my resignation....or even to step down from management...they can't believe i would go to those lengths, and don't want to "lose" me....I can't believe that all of this is over TWO DAYS out of the 365 that i dedicate to the company!!
It is my first experience working for a company where the holiday is not split between the managers (there are 4 of us) and all managers are expected to work.