Where do I stand should it get tricky??

SusieWinwood

I have 15 days left from my holiday entitlement, so I've booked a week from 13 July then every Friday and Monday off till 24 August.

I emailed my boss to ask for these days, heard neither yeah or nay so filled my card in and sent it off. I got this back

'You have booked almost every Friday as holidays during August, as well as tomorrow. I thought we had agreed when X reduced her working weekly hours that you would make sure that the office would be covered on Fridays. I don’t need to remind you that August is a busy period coming up to enrolment.'

I'm fully aware of that as we start enrolling on 27 August!

I thought that only having 2 days off a week would be better than 2 weeks block as 2 of us are in Tue Wed and Thur. Obviously not!

I never agreed that the office would be staffed on a Friday surely that's her problem not mine if no staff are in AND with it being Summer no staff or students are in either making it ideal to be off.

We have to have our leave before August 30 as the new leave year starts Sept 1.

I don't want Mon and Tue off as I prefer the Friday and Monday.

My holiday card has nothing to say 'You cannot take Fridays off' or similar.
Can she refuse me my holdays or am I safe?

TIA

Susie

liney

In short, yes she can refuse your holidays.

As long as you have opportunity to take them, which you have on a Monday/Tuesday, the employer is ultimately in control of when holidays are taken.

You would need a very understanding employer to allow 5 long weekends in one year, let alone 5 long weekends on the trott.

Zazen999

I'd respond with your points as above without the smilies. Possibly without the line about it being her problem, and make it clear that you thought long and hard about how to take your leave to make it easier for the team as well as for yourself.

Louise22

I think it is at your employers discretion to allow holidays, although they have to have a good reason to refuse - their good reason being that they need the office covered. I would be very surprised if you were allowed to have all these long weekends!

(I tried something similar once )

SusieWinwood

But surely a long weekend it more productive than 3 weeks off? At least I'm in the office 3 days a week as opposed to none? All the work pre enrolment will be done and dusted by the end of July as it always is.

LinasPilibaitisisbatman

What you think is productive and what your employer thinks is productive is clearly different.

If they have no one to staff the office on a friday then of course you won't get every friday off for 2-3 months.

You can try and reason with your boss but I dont think your request is reasonable and its quite right if they want to reject it.

Tbh its a very big shortfall in policy that they have allowed you to reach this period with 3 weeks holiday.

Debt_Free_Chick

SusieWinwood wrote: »

But surely a long weekend it more productive than 3 weeks off?

And taking Monday & Tuesday off is a long weekend. You still get four days off ......

I can't see what difference it would make to you - but I can understand your employer wanting at least one member of staff in on any particular day (e.g. Fridays).

SusieWinwood

It's been signed off so I can have them :T :j(expecting a slapped wrist at my review soon) :mad:

Thanks

Susie

Bobl

Just don't expect them to do you any favours from here on in; you are obviously not prepared to be flexible so why should they in future.