Annual Leave, Employer being very Awkward

PreviouslyVeryImpulsive

Hi,

My girlfriend has been in her job for 3 years now, her employer is renowned for being so unflexible its a joke, but when it comes to them wanting people to go above and beyond then its expected such as covering shifts and doing overtime etc.

We have a holiday coming up and although it says in her contract she can only have 2 weeks annual leave unless authorised by a manager, they are being funny because the annual leave she booked is over by 1 day (even though her boss has booked annual leave that goes over 2 weeks and so have other people that like to lick the bosses !!!), and she cant change it because thats the day we arrive back from holiday.

Were also going to be looking after her niece for the weekend at the end of the same month she tried to book 2 days annual leave then also, and they are saying because someone has "requested" the day off (but not actually booked annual leave) that she cant have it.

Please can you let me know where she stands.

sammyjammy

An employer is within their rights to restrict holiday as much as they like as long as someone is able to take the leave they are due in the period it's due, did your girlfriend not think to get the holidays agreed before she booked the holiday?

terra_ferma

If by that you are saying that she can book up to two weeks when she feels like it, without going through a manager, well that's definitely not inflexible. Actually the most flexible I've ever come across!

But maybe this is not what you meant?

busterian

I agree on this one. I think the OP means that his GF can only book 2 weeks off at any one time and anything over and above that needs to be authorised by a Manager (at their discretion).

If your GF has not firstly checked with her Manager if those weeks are ok, she should not have booked a holiday.

In my workplace, you need to check first that a holiday request doesnt clash with anyone else BEFORE you book and pay for any holiday.

RedSoleShoes

As everyone has said, unfortunately she is not going to be a winner in this situation. The best she can do is speak to her employer, say she is really sorry but she didn't realise it was a day over the 2-week limit. If it is not going to affect everyday business, they would be rather unreasonable to make a fuss, but if other staff are away and it leaves them short then I doubt they will be flexible with her.

Employers can dictate when annual leave is taken. Most will be flexible with employees because in reality it makes for a much happier working environment. Of course, some employers are just g1ts who think you owe them your life and you will never win with these.

PreviouslyVeryImpulsive

Yes, sorry I didn't include all the information. She did book It before we booked the holiday and it wad agreed. They are now saying that she is 1 day over and that she will have to come in.
She has checked and no one else is taking annual leave on the day in question and it shouldnt cause any disruption at all.

She really is dedicated to her job and works well, but chooses not to do overtime or we would never see each other. I feel this is why they are being awkward as she has a listof cases.and dates over the last year where a number of people have been allowed over 2 weeks. I find It hard to beleive that you agree this Is ok. Its 1 day over

I meant to say pretty much 2 weeks and below is guaranteed by her manager but anything over has to be ok'd further

terra_ferma

If her manager agreed 2 weeks + 1 day when he did not have authority to do so, then it's his problem. He should not have excedeed his authority, and should have gone to his boss or whoever signs it off.

Could she say that as far as she was concerned the fact that her manager authorised it meant that it had been passed by the relevant people?

paulwf

Not that it helps now but if you think overtime is the cause behind the refusal it might be worth her doing a bit now and then. Although employers will never appreciate all your efforts if you can be flexible they usually do remember it when you ask for a favour.