Annual leave query

tamsin1982

I handed in a annual leave request to my boss last week and he's said no, which has left me more than a little cross especially as he is always less than polite!
I'm a single parent, work 16hrs a week (Monday & Friday) I've asked for a day at the beginning of Aug and one at the end. he's told me there are no other days in Aug available either.
Ive already booked off for October half term and xmas is fully booked so I cant have any time off then either :mad:
My sister looks after my son after school for me and will all day during the hols but I cant expect her to do it 14 times over the holidays especially when it now looks like ll be taking my annual leave during term time!
Is there anything I can do about it or can he refuse to let me have it?
x

Googlewhacker

yes he can is the short answer, he obviously has business reasons why he cannot allow you that time of whether it is the busy season or other people are off but even if he doesn't he can refuse as long as he allows you the time off before the end of the holiday year

paulwf

For summer holidays you want to give 12-18 months notice if possible. Giving 1 months notice for an August holiday is unlikely to result in getting the time off. I know it isn't always easy to give lots of notice but now is the time to get organised now for next year...schools usually issue holiday dates online well in advance.

tamsin1982

I was afraid you were gonna say that Its because there is someone off on one of the days, i couldnt see anything on the other
Where I worked before the manager would allow holiday and just arrange cover, which I could probably do if I asked my job share partner but I never see him! Thanks for your response tho

busy_mom_2

Where i work we all apply together then if more than the allocated people allowed off at any time all want the same weeks we sort it out amongst ourselves. Any other days then we check to see how many are before we ask. Additional leave is only allowed if it is necessary.

tamsin1982

Hi paul, we cant book holiday until Dec for 2011 as we dont have the wall calendars and it would seem higher ranks get first pickings as all of xmas was gone by 2nd week of jan!
I didnt even think about it, this is my sons first yr at school and as there are only 2 other people with kids of school age i didnt think that there would be a problem! I know now for next year and will send my boss a letter containing all the days off i require for 2012 so I get first choices lol

PasturesNew

tamsin1982 wrote: »

as there are only 2 other people with kids of school age i didnt think that there would be a problem!

It's not just people with kids that like to have their holidays in August.

tamsin1982

busy_mom wrote: »

Where i work we all apply together then if more than the allocated people allowed off at any time all want the same weeks we sort it out amongst ourselves. Any other days then we check to see how many are before we ask. Additional leave is only allowed if it is necessary.

thats a much fairer way - or sounds to be! but then i guess the downside is pre planning which days you will want off throughout the year and just hoping no one has booked a day you need off at short notice

our calendar is locked in his office where he never is and we're not allowed without supervision so its a bit of a pain cos u cant see what is left!

And yes im aware other people have holiday in August but i didnt expect 2 people from my department to be off in every week when there are only 12 of us!

Googlewhacker

tamsin1982 wrote: »

thats a much fairer way - or sounds to be! but then i guess the downside is pre planning which days you will want off throughout the year and just hoping no one has booked a day you need off at short notice

our calendar is locked in his office where he never is and we're not allowed without supervision so its a bit of a pain cos u cant see what is left!

And yes im aware other people have holiday in August but i didnt expect 2 people from my department to be off in every week when there are only 12 of us!

It's just unlucky but if you have a guy that job shares then get in contact with him, explain the situation and swap your days....job done

Savvy_Sue

But swapping days won't help, as it will still mean the OP's son going to Aunty for just as many days.

To alleviate that problem, I'd look into holiday activities, as well as the usual sports things I saw an advert for Science Camps today, for 5-12 year olds.

paulwf

tamsin1982 wrote: »

Hi paul, we cant book holiday until Dec for 2011 as we dont have the wall calendars and it would seem higher ranks get first pickings as all of xmas was gone by 2nd week of jan!
I didnt even think about it, this is my sons first yr at school and as there are only 2 other people with kids of school age i didnt think that there would be a problem! I know now for next year and will send my boss a letter containing all the days off i require for 2012 so I get first choices lol

December is far too late to be allowed to book your main holidays...to get good rates I've sometimes had to book a holiday over a year in advance. 2011 year planners are certainly available now so I can't see why it can't be done.

What usually works well is for companies to ask for you to book 2 weeks well in advance - which would cover your main holidays - then sort the rest out as the year goes on. It does sound like your boss treats you like children though so I don't suppose they care.

Anyway, you can all get together and ask for an earlier booking time as that should actually help the company, and if you can't at the end of November compose a letter with the dates you require for 2011, keep it at work, and on the first day of the holiday bookings hand in that letter.