All I know is that those with children in my team “need” time off but it never seems to be the turn of their partners to take the time off from their work. Shared parenting always non existent when it comes to social work teams in my experience. It’s not about those of us without children working harder or always covering for collagues “child care needs”. It’s about the assumption that without children we just have to be more flexible about our plans for time off. Apart from anything else the assumptions are sexist because it seems it is only mothers and not the father who takes care of children at holiday periods. If I was less diplomatic I would ask the question “If I wasn’t responsible for the birth of your child why am I expected to share in their care?”. That’s all as Not Worthy says.

Do you mean because we’re expected to work holidays/half terms etc while those with kids need it off? Or because working full time means we cover more absences/sickness, pick up part timers work if there is an emergency, and generally are more involved in supporting the team?