I am pretty sure the answer to this is no but I want some more opinions on this. Basically I have a few coworkers that are well below me on seniority and they are starting to request days off a couple weeks out from now. If they are given those days off I will be forced to work their shifts as I know what the people above me will take. Can they really force me to work some crappy shift just so someone can have a day off to go **** around and do whatever? When did they start prioritizing personal time over work and seniority? If the simple answer is no then are there any situations that a lower seniority person could request a day off ahead of time and get it over someone higher like perhaps a wedding or funeral?
That's kind of a selfish attitude to have. What if the shoe were on the other foot and you asked off for certain days? Someone would have to cover your shift. That's just the way it is. Everyone needs to ask for time off for various reasons and everyone pitches in to take up the slack. Anyway, don't these people who are asking off for certain days get two or more days off anyway? Why is it bothering you that they're asking for specific days? Also, you can't compare someone asking time off for a social event with someone needing time off for a funeral.
I suppose my selfish attitude is coming from the fact that I have always just followed seniority and attempted to get the day off when it was my turn but obviously that was not the case when I first started working that is what I have put my time in for to have some choice over my schedule not to have my schedule chosen for me by a new hire. I also asked the people BELOW me on seniority if they could work my day I did not force people above me to cover for me. I am not comparing a social event to a funeral that is something different which is why I asked if those types of situations were acceptable. I do not however have sympathy for someone to go have fun at a concert or party.
OP, if the shifts you'd have to work would violate any set availability, then that would be a problem schedule-wise. Otherwise, you're basically saying you don't think these other workers should be entitled to a day off (for a reason that is none of your business) simply because you'd have to work a shift you're not used to.
