Work refusing holiday dates

PloddingAlong:P

Hi all, I'm sorry if this is in the wrong place, I don't really usually start threads.

My OH works full time, I currently do not work.

My OH put his holiday dates in, he asked for 3 dates in school half terms and an odd few days dotted around during term time.

He had it back and all the odd few days were ok-d, but the 3 in half terms were a no-no.

I don't know how much im allowed to say on the subject but basically he works with another lady who has booked every single half term off forever. It has always been the same. We have been together for 5 years and have had 2 small uk holidays in that time and both times had permission from the school to take the kids out.

Now it is not allowed to take the kids out of school yet his work say no to any time off then at all. He is taking this further with a union rep but we guarantee they will still say no. What can we do next?

I'm tempted just to say the kids are ill but I have taught them to be honest and I know they won't be able to keep that they had been away a secret.

I'm sorry for raising this subject again but need some advice please?

scaredofdebt

Presumably it's a small company?

It would be fair if holidays were shared around if there's a conflict that they can't cover, but what's fair isn't always what happens.

Legally I don't think there's anything you can do but I'm not an expert.

Little_Vics

There's no legal standing I'm afraid. However, it might be worth making a case in writing to the HR department/chief executive/whoever explaining the situation and asking for a fairer way of allocating holidays rather than first-come-first-served.

Person_one

I think there's some exception to the rules about taking time off school if the parents can demonstrate that they can't get annual leave in the holidays.

PloddingAlong:P

It's a VERY large company.

There is going to be a big dispute raised as you are not allowed to book holiday dates until the 'slot opens' and the lady in question books up years in advance when you are not supposed to.

Other than that I'm at a loss, I don't think proving to the council that he's not allowed any time off out of school time will do anything, the new law is the law.

Shame I believe very strongly that children need the school environment or I would home school.

patchwork_cat

This isn't necessarily a small company. I used to work in local government, but a small office and I had similar issues every summer.

PloddingAlong:P

Person_one wrote: »

I think there's some exception to the rules about taking time off school if the parents can demonstrate that they can't get annual leave in the holidays.

Sorry, I wrote at the same time as you. I really hope this is the case, will look into it, am not hopeful though

I do have all dates on the form with refused, refused, refused etc on

It's really upset me today

claire16c

PloddingAlong:P wrote: »

It's a VERY large company.

There is going to be a big dispute raised as you are not allowed to book holiday dates until the 'slot opens' and the lady in question books up years in advance when you are not supposed to.

Other than that I'm at a loss, I don't think proving to the council that he's not allowed any time off out of school time will do anything, the new law is the law.

Shame I believe very strongly that children need the school environment or I would home school.

If its a large company then why cant there be more than 1 person off at a time? Or does one of them need to always be there?

Has he questioned the thing about the lady booking it off before she is supposed to and hence is he not being allowed?

Person one is correct, the school can decide to let you take your kids out if you can prove you are not allowed holidays in school holidays.

Has he spoken to his immediate boss before bringing a union in? he needs to have a meeting to go over why it is refused and see if he can persuade them first.

Bennifred

Does he get leave approved in the main school holidays - Christmas/Easter/summer? Is it just the half-terms he has a problem with?

FR_262

I agree. He needs to take this up with HR.

I had a similar problem, years ago, where I couldn't take a holiday from June to October! All the weeks were booked by people higher up than me. I took it up with the union and, to cut a long story short, everyone could have at least one week in the summer.

PloddingAlong:P

He works in a supermarket bakery and there isn't allowed to be more than one person off at a time from that department & as the lady always books ahead they are effectively saying he is NEVER allowed time off out of school time.

He has questioned it before but he is never taken seriously, hence getting a union rep involved.

He is now debating asking for a headed letter stating that they will not allow him time off under any circumstances so I can take these into the schools.

I only wanted a little break as hadn't had one for a while, I can't believe how difficult it is now