Taking holiday in a new job

richard001

Hi all

I started my new office job on 8 September. I haven't been on holiday for 12 years (and need a break!) so 3 weeks ago I booked a week in Spain for 1-8 Jan. Our office starts back after Christmas Tuesday 3 Jan so I'd be starting back the following Wednesday (the 11th). Three weeks ago I put my holiday request in for 6 days and HR told me 'it should be OK.'. However, I was told today 'you haven't accrued enough holidays for 6 days off as you earn your 1.5 holidays per month so you haven't enough.'

Seems as though I'll have worked there for 3 full months by January, that gives me 4.5 days, which means I can't get the time off and I'll have to cancel my holiday. Does this sound right to you? Or is it me in the wrong - is it too much asking for 6 days holiday seems as though I only started at the beginning of September?

I'd appreciate any advice, thank you, Richard

blue_haddock

The general rule of thumb is book it off first and THEN book the holiday.

SarEl

richard001 wrote: »

Hi all

I started my new office job on 8 September. I haven't been on holiday for 12 years (and need a break!) so 3 weeks ago I booked a week in Spain for 1-8 Jan. Our office starts back after Christmas Tuesday 3 Jan so I'd be starting back the following Wednesday (the 11th). Three weeks ago I put my holiday request in for 6 days and HR told me 'it should be OK.'. However, I was told today 'you haven't accrued enough holidays for 6 days off as you earn your 1.5 holidays per month so you haven't enough.'

Seems as though I'll have worked there for 3 full months by January, that gives me 4.5 days, which means I can't get the time off and I'll have to cancel my holiday. Does this sound right to you? Or is it me in the wrong - is it too much asking for 6 days holiday seems as though I only started at the beginning of September?

I'd appreciate any advice, thank you, Richard

As observed above, you should have asked for the leave first, or at least checked what the rules are.

You accrue 1.6 days leave per month (five days per quarter) assuming that bank holidays are taken - but you lost some accrual as you didn't start until 8th September. But you said that you asked for 3rd - 11th (7 days). You may want 7 days, but you don't need 7 days. You return on 8th, so you need 4 days. Which you have accrued.

And you should also remember that accrued or not an employer can refuse to allow you to book leave at any time - so make sure that you will be allowed the time off before you book in future.

paddyrg

Also be aware that your employer may be able to mandate that you take certain periods holiday (commonly offices close between Christmas and New Year to save heating an empty building at a time when there are no customers to service. This may mean that those 3 working days leave you with 1.5 days holiday - for a week booked away.

Oldernotwiser

richard001 wrote: »

Hi all

I started my new office job on 8 September. I haven't been on holiday for 12 years (and need a break!) so 3 weeks ago I booked a week in Spain for 1-8 Jan. Our office starts back after Christmas Tuesday 3 Jan so I'd be starting back the following Wednesday (the 11th). Three weeks ago I put my holiday request in for 6 days and HR told me 'it should be OK.'. However, I was told today 'you haven't accrued enough holidays for 6 days off as you earn your 1.5 holidays per month so you haven't enough.'

Seems as though I'll have worked there for 3 full months by January, that gives me 4.5 days, which means I can't get the time off and I'll have to cancel my holiday. Does this sound right to you? Or is it me in the wrong - is it too much asking for 6 days holiday seems as though I only started at the beginning of September?

I'd appreciate any advice, thank you, Richard

If your holiday finishes on the 8th January, why are you trying to take the 9th and 10th off as well?

getmore4less

Make sure they acrue the holiday propely for the part year.

When is the holiday year and what are the holiday allowances?

1.5 per month + 8 BH would only be 26 so something is wrong statutory minimum would be 28(if you work 5 days+)

cr1mson

Oldernotwiser wrote: »

If your holiday finishes on the 8th January, why are you trying to take the 9th and 10th off as well?

Totally agree. That way you would only need 4 days off!

C

rocky.raccoon

Ask for unpaid leave. Explain the situation and see what they come up with. At least, if you get it you won't have to cancel your booked holiday.

debrag

my partner hasn't started work yet but does in Jan we are on holiday for 4 days in Feb. It wasn't booked when he had his interview but they have since been told, they haven't said anything about him not allowing him to take it. He can work his hours around it if needed.

paddedjohn

richard001 wrote: »

Hi all

I started my new office job on 8 September. I haven't been on holiday for 12 years (and need a break!) so 3 weeks ago I booked a week in Spain for 1-8 Jan. Our office starts back after Christmas Tuesday 3 Jan so I'd be starting back the following Wednesday (the 11th). Three weeks ago I put my holiday request in for 6 days and HR told me 'it should be OK.'. However, I was told today 'you haven't accrued enough holidays for 6 days off as you earn your 1.5 holidays per month so you haven't enough.'

Seems as though I'll have worked there for 3 full months by January, that gives me 4.5 days, which means I can't get the time off and I'll have to cancel my holiday. Does this sound right to you? Or is it me in the wrong - is it too much asking for 6 days holiday seems as though I only started at the beginning of September?

I'd appreciate any advice, thank you, Richard

8th Sept-Dec 30th is 16 weeks, this means you have accrued 16/52's of the minimum entitlement of 28 days meaning you have earned 8.6 days.
From this you can deduct the amount of days your office is closed, so if you close on Friday 23rd and return Tues 3rd Jan you will have used up 6 days leaving you only 2.6 which is not enough for your break even if they allowed you to take it.

magenta22

blue_haddock wrote: »

The general rule of thumb is book it off first and THEN book the holiday.

Not always possible, especially if there is a good deal which by the time you get approval it's gone, or someone books a surprise trip etc...

and in reality, how many people actually book time off work first and then book holiday?

OP - when is your holiday year to and from? pretty much everyone hasn't accrued all their holiday at the time of booking, say holiday year is Apr - Mar and someone wants 2 weeks off in July, they won't have technically accrued those two weeks so in which case everyone would be in this position when they want a holiday but most people still take holiday's in July/August yet not accrued the time off.