Employer cancelled my holiday, can they do this?

Wesker

Went into work yesterday morning to be told that 3 people were being layed off and all holiday leave was to be cancelled for November.
Well i have got 2 days booked for next weekend, so i said if i'm not allowed to have it then i am going to leave but they wouldnt budge so i quit.
Are they allowed to cancel holiday leave at such short notice?

dmg24

It all depends on what the company annual leave policy is. I do think that resigning is a complete overreaction though!

Crooky_2

Yes, not a very wise move at all, remember now not only are you out of work but any future employer will request a reference from your last employer which probably won't be glowing following this.

As far as I am awre leave can be cancelled although generally speaking any costs incurred by yourself (flights etc) are normally reinbursed it all boils down to hte phrase "opperational need".

martinbuckley

Wesker wrote: »

Went into work yesterday morning to be told that 3 people were being layed off

they wouldnt budge so i quit.

On the bright side, I guess only 2 people got laid off against their wishes...

McKneff

Are you mad........................

themull1

Yes, if its 'Business Needs' i think that they can stop annual leave, but it doesn't matter to you now does it!

Old_Git

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Employment/Employees/Timeoffandholidays/DG_10034711

I would say no they cant refuse holidays that have been agreed.

zorber

yes they can but if you have booked a holiday you can present reciepts and request that they cover the costs you have encured

TEDDYRUKSPIN

Crooky wrote: »

Yes, not a very wise move at all, remember now not only are you out of work but any future employer will request a reference from your last employer which probably won't be glowing following this.

As far as I am awre leave can be cancelled although generally speaking any costs incurred by yourself (flights etc) are normally reinbursed it all boils down to hte phrase "opperational need".

Bit of an overstatement about the reference. Companies are only allowed to decline a reference and are not allowed to put anything bad into a reference letter. The previous employee can request a copy of the letter from the new potential employer and if anything on this statement resulted in the person being disadvantaged, they can take them to court.

Proc

TEDDYRUKSPIN wrote: »

Bit of an overstatement about the reference. Companies are only allowed to decline a reference and are not allowed to put anything bad into a reference letter. The previous employee can request a copy of the letter from the new potential employer and if anything on this statement resulted in the person being disadvantaged, they can take them to court.

It's amazing how the real world differs to your wonderful place.

I often get calls directly from recruitment agents or new employers asking questions about ex-employees. I tell the truth. Every time.

Sure, I've had a few come via post, and I fill in their questions accordingly (normally ask if I would re-hire, and confirming dates). Again, I'm truthful with the answer.

I'm not sure where this myth of not being able to give a bad reference comes from. Even if it's law, it's so unworkable, ridiculous, and 90% of people with a brain will simply have an off-the-record chat with previous employers.

It's a pity they didn't announce the holiday cuts before they announced redundancies because one of the three people laid off may have retained their job when OP threw dummy out pram and quit.

Emmzi

Teddy, that's an urban myth. They can put in anything they like as long as it is factual. So "resigned because of a disoute over holiday entitlement" is fine for them to write, looks very petty to the next employer, serves as a warning sign, and is totally legit.