I Refused to Give Up My Holiday Leave to a Coworker With Kids—Just Because I’m Child-Free

This is definition of discrimination. I'd say you have a civil rights case that would win in any courtroom

Absolutely not. I'll be first to tell you life isn't fair with three examples why but this is WRONG. You not having children, for whatever reason, does not make it your responsibility to give up your personal time so a person with kids can be with their children. I don't have children but I know Christmas is December 25 every of my life. If a parent doesn't plan this "special holiday" for their own family then they may not be the holier than thou parent they claim to be.

Christmas was a Christian Holiday until it became a bonanza for shopkeepers.
Leaving that aside. No-one should be expected to give up their Christmas day unless it is in their contract of employment.
Why doesn't the employer give everyone Christmas Day off?

If you're time off has been planned from that long ago there is not a chance ld give it up. It's not your responsibility to give up your time off just because she has kids and you don't. It would be one thing if it was a last minute request but she knew about this for months and you deserve your time off just as much as she does. That's not fair to you or the others that are expecting you to have your time off like you planned. Go enjoy your time off and tell her your sorry but this
time off has been planned for months and you are NOT changing it. End of story.

Do not give up your vacation. Unless she had a hidden pregnancy and just surprisingly had a baby, she has known all year she has kids and could have asked for time off. Tell the company if they're so family first, they should give everyone time off. And remind them it's discrimination to treat child-free people differently. Also, child-free does not mean family free.

Don't give a flip. You legit asked for this time. So no kids you wanna do what you want you want not what brats want you to do. Take your leave. F em

Keep your well deserved vacation.

So back at my first REAL job I would work the 7-3 or 6-2 shift on Thanksgiving and Christmas so that the FT people who had kids could have that time off. But as I got older and still before kids where I worked we rotated holidays so again no biggie.
But as jobs changed and I got older and I worked places that were not open on holidays I saw to many people with kids expect those w/o to swap days that the childless person already had off basically b/c of poor planning.
CRAZY!!!
It was one thing I promised myself I'd never do when I had a kid.

Your vacation was approved .months ago. Enjoy! Your co worker is not entitled to your days. Enjoy your vacation

You know what to do within. Listen to your heart. Let know one take away your self worth.

If OP can afford to, they should look for another job and resign. Make sure OP has everything documented and get a lawyer and sue.

I've served 11yr11mos military 9of them as sgt. Holiday are tuff I've helped on holiday just out helping the family closeness not because I'm single .

Absolutely not! I am a parent of 2 and I confidently say that this is beyond bullshit. Kids or no kids is irrelevant. Planning is key when taking a vacation. You did your due diligence and they did not. That is not your fault. Supporting any colleagues definitely does not include you having to make personal sacrifices just to benefit them.

I'd tell HR that you are taking your vacation as you planned and if there is any other forceful discussions, comments or bribes about it then you'll speak to an employment lawyer and they will be hearing from them.

Bottom line is, the colleague asked and you said no. Anything further is unacceptable and can be considered as harassment, by both the company and individual.

For me it wasn't about being me feeling entitled because I was a mom. I didn't have anyone to care for my child during school breaks. I never pushed it though. If I couldn't have the time off, I paid a daycare center. Now that my child is grown, I let other coworkers have the holidays off if they want to.

Sue them for pushing their pedophiles ideology on you. Religious businesses are just a cover up for their sex trafficking ring of underage children.

No. I worked a go ornament job for 10 yrs. I never got christmas or Thanksgiving because everyone who had and slightly higher in seniority would steal every holiday. I never got to spend holiday with my family. You earned and asked for that holiday off. They had plenty of time to ask for it off. Dont give it up. Now if they offer $500. I might consider it. But not having kids or family is not a good enough reason to ask you to give your time up.

Christmas is harder for parents. schedules, childcare, travel, the whole circus. You giving up a couple of days you’ll probably spend Netflixing anyway isn’t the end of the world.
And honestly? HR didn’t threaten you. They bribed you. Take the money and the brownie points. Those “team player” vibes convert into better treatment long-term. Meanwhile, your coworker gets her “dream trip,” management sees you as cooperative, and you avoid the drama.
Is it fair? No.
Is it strategic? Absolutely!

Tell them ALL to shove a reindeer antler up their asses. Since when does not kids equal no family. If you let them bulldoze you out of YOUR VACATION TIME, they will do it for EVERY PLAN YOU HAVE MADE, ANY TIME THEY WANT TO. It is NOT YOUR PROBLEM. I would contact a LABOR ATTORNEY on GP. They can't force you to change your life or lifestyle, just because someone else has curtain climbers. DO NOT GIVE UP YOUR TIME.