Holiday advice needed...

columbiana

Hello all,

Long time lurker here, but having searched I cant find anything that answers my question, so here goes...

I currently work part time, and have worked for the company for 5 years. When I started I was told i had 15 days holiday, plus any bank hols that i worked I would earn a day off in lieu. Six months later this was changed and I was told I now had 18 days holiday, but no longer got time off in lieu for bank hols.

I was also informed that after 3 years service i would get 1 extra days holiday, and after 5 years I would get 2, taking my anual allowance to 20 days. The company also told us that every member of staff would be given a day off in lieu for the royal wedding.

I found out this evening that not only am I no longer being given my extra 2 'in service' days holiday, but also that I am not being paid for my day off in lieu of the Royal Wedding.

My staff handbook states that all staff are entitled to the extra 'in sevice' days, and many members of staff have already been paid for the extra days holiday from the Royal Wedding. Any ideas how I can approach this with my employer or do I just have to lose the three days holiday?

Thanks

Savvy_Sue

You have the right not to be less favourably treated than a full time employee, so at the very least these days should be pro-rata - how many days / hours do you work, and how many days / hours would a f/t person do?

columbiana

Hi Sue, thanks for your reply. My contract is for 20 hours over 3 days per week, but I usually work around 30 most weeks. The vast majority of staff work either 16 or 20 hour contracts, usually only management work full time (40 hours per week).
I work with a few other part time members of staff who had the day off for the wedding, and were paid for the day instead of taking the time off... I wouldn't mind if it was every one, but it seems to be just a few people missing out

SarEl

cahillcahill wrote: »

The vast majority of staff work either 16 or 20 hour contracts, usually only management work full time (40 hours per week).
I work with a few other part time members of staff who had the day off for the wedding, and were paid for the day instead of taking the time off... I wouldn't mind if it was every one, but it seems to be just a few people missing out

??? What is this?

SarEl

columbiana wrote: »

Hi Sue, thanks for your reply. My contract is for 20 hours over 3 days per week, but I usually work around 30 most weeks. The vast majority of staff work either 16 or 20 hour contracts, usually only management work full time (40 hours per week).
I work with a few other part time members of staff who had the day off for the wedding, and were paid for the day instead of taking the time off... I wouldn't mind if it was every one, but it seems to be just a few people missing out

So you are not being treated less favourably than full-time staff - you seem to be saying that some part-time staff have these holidays and others don't?

But you say that "you found out this evening" - what did you find out and how? The wedding was six months ago and you have just found out that you didn't get paid for it as promised?

It seems the most sensible approach is to ask the employer - you seem to assume that you must lose these days, but you don't know that you have, because you don't know that an error hasn't been made somewhere. It seems unlikely that they are singling you out for different treatment than other staff on the same employment contract as yourself. But you won't know what has happened until you ask, and we can't really give informed advice until we know what the employer has said.

columbiana

Hi SarEl, thanks for your reply.
Sorry for not being clearer, I was told I should take the day off in lieu rather than be paid as I was on the rota to work that day.
When we get our wage slips, it shows the amount of holidays we have left to take, and until last month mine was correct, but suddenly it has changed and no longer shows the extra three days.
As I work part time, three days is an extra weeks holiday, so I had been saving all three days to take a week off in March.
It seems everyone who had either been paid for the day rather than taking it in lieu, or who has already taken the days holiday, has been paid... but anyone who hasnt already taken the extra day off has lost it.
I spoke to my manager last night and was told we no longer get 'in service days' and that my holidays were correct. Aparently the company has 'changed their mind' about the royal wedding day too. My manager was very clear that I was no longer entitled to the time off, and I really dont know what i should do from here.
Are they able to just change their mind about the in service days after 5 years without even telling us?

SarEl

Technically they have varied your contract. So they could withdraw the extra days for in service, consult on this and if you refuse, enforce it. But they ought not to apply any such changes retrospectively or without consultation. However, are you willing to risk your job over these days holidays - because that is what you may be doing.

columbiana

cahillcahill wrote: »

The vast majority of staff work either 16 or 20 hour contracts, usually only management work full time (40 hours per week).
I work with a few other part time members of staff who had the day off for the wedding, and were paid for the day instead of taking the time off... I wouldn't mind if it was every one, but it seems to be just a few people missing out

I'm not sure what this means?

agrinnall

SarEl wrote: »

??? What is this?

Looks to me like cahillcahill is trying to build their post count so they can offer us some of their lovely :spam:, their other posts seem a bit odd too. I think I will be making a report and letting the guides make a decision.

columbiana

Many thanks for your reply. If its all legal there isn't much I can do about it... and I'm not prepared to start a row I've got no chance of winning!
Thanks again