Is my company being unreasonable?

woody01

snowball1972 wrote: »

Man up! people in the military spend months away from their kids, and yes they choose that life, but you also chose that job.

Bang on!
I had 1 week with my son when he was born, then went off to Iraq for 9 months.

NorhternMonkey wrote: »

Hello Folks,

I had a week off just before christmas to spend time with my wife who was heavily pregnant. She then give birth on New Years day, so I took two weeks paternaty leave.

I have now asked for the 29th Jan, 1st and 8th Feb off, but they have been refused because work say I have had too much time off recently.

I tried to explaine that the 29th and 1st (Fri & Mon) off so we can go and visit my family, as I have lots and its would be easier than that lot comming down.

The 8th I want so I can look after our little girl while my wife goes to a meeting.

Are my company being unreasonable?

Although annual leave is a right, it is not a condition that you take it when you want to.
If you think dictating to your boss when you want leave is reasonable, then i can safely say it isn't.

You request annual leave on specific dates, ,not demand it.

ninky_2

seven-day-weekend wrote: »

But I think that is a different scenario altogether. The OP has not been ill or bereaved. He has just become a father.

and that entitles him to paternity leave which is not the same as holiday leave at all.

seven-day-weekend

ninky wrote: »

and that entitles him to paternity leave which is not the same as holiday leave at all.

I'm not disputing that, but having had his paternity leave, he now wants annual holiday leave which his boss is quite within his rights to ask him to take it at another time.

mikey72

No he's not within his rights.
Paternity leave cannot be used as an excuse not to grant annual leave, in exactly the same way as maternity leave can't be. As others are taking annual leave the op is entitled to take it. If no-one was allowed it fair enough.
It's discrimination, just against men rather then women this time.

liney

As long as the boss gives alternative dates when the leave can be taken s/he can refuse requests for leave. Regardless of the reason for absence, they may feel that the needs of the business dictate that the OP really needs to actually spend some time at work this month and that's reasonable.

ckerrd

mikey72 wrote: »

No he's not within his rights.
Paternity leave cannot be used as an excuse not to grant annual leave, in exactly the same way as maternity leave can't be. As others are taking annual leave the op is entitled to take it. If no-one was allowed it fair enough.
It's discrimination, just against men rather then women this time.

The OP is entitled to take annual leave when his employer deems it suitable, he has no right to take it when he wants.
As I and a couple of other posters have suggested if he feels he is being discriminated against then he should raise the issue through his company policy.

I wonder if he has?

NJW69

What about trying to find a compromise? Finish early on a Friday (ask which one is okay over the next few weeks) or make an early start so you can finish early and then do a late shift on the Monday if thats possible so you actually only have one day off. Could you work your hours round your wifes meeting on the 8th i.e. work before and after. Don't know what you do our travel etc so this may not be possible but could be an alternative approach.

iamana1ias

You've barely been at work since before xmas, so I can understand why your company don't want to give you more time off.

Take a video of the baby (let's face it, it won't do much at this age) and put it on youtube and send all of your family the link. Then go and see them at weekends and focus on the job they pay you to do

ninky_2

ckerrd wrote: »

The OP is entitled to take annual leave when his employer deems it suitable, he has no right to take it when he wants.
As I and a couple of other posters have suggested if he feels he is being discriminated against then he should raise the issue through his company policy.

I wonder if he has?

but the employer has to act reasonably in this. if the employer had given the reason that they simply would not have enough cover over that time then fair enough. the fact they gave the reason that the OP had had too much time off due to paternity leave is the problem. using the paternity leave as the reason could be seen as discriminatory.

Pete111

ninky wrote: »

but the employer has to act reasonably in this. if the employer had given the reason that they simply would not have enough cover over that time then fair enough. the fact they gave the reason that the OP had had too much time off due to paternity leave is the problem. using the paternity leave as the reason could be seen as discriminatory.

Seen as discriminatory by whom exactly? As if this one would ever get to tribunal....:rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

Yet another poster who thinks Employment law is like criminal law and you can call the Employee Relations Police when you think it's been breached...

Sorry OP, back in the real world I'm afraid being refused leave as you have spent a large amount of time out of the office in the recent past (for whatever reason) can be and is used as an acceptable excuse not to grant leave.

Suggest that you pick your battles and leave this one alone whilst working on a plan B for introducing your new arrival to the family (oh, and congrats BTW)