Work refusing holiday dates

Southend1

He's definitely done the right thing asking his union for advice and help.

I would be considering whether a case can be made that this is unlawful sex discrimination. I.e. The female colleague is being given priority and your OH is being treated detrimentally because there is an assumption he doesn't have childcare responsibilities.

Before going down that road though, some further investigation and conversations with management to establish the facts are probably in order. E.g. Is the colleague simply getting in there quicker than OH?is there a policy that at peak times only blocks of a week are allowed rather than individual days? Etc

GobbledyGook

Does the woman perhaps work term time?

meer53

Your OH needs to go through his manager and tell them whats happens. If they don't sort it out, go through the Union. If he's been slow in booking his holidays and this other person gets in first, you can't blame her really.

It's the same where i work, i have to book all my holidays in October for the following year. If i want specific holidays then i have to make sure that i get in on the day the booking system opens. If i don't then i have to accept that someone else may get there first.

As there are only 2 people involved in this situation, there should be a bit more give and take though really. Surely someone else should be able to cover for holidays ? What would happen if they were both off sick ? There has to be a contingency plan.

Spendless

Hi

Ask your kids school for what they deem to be 'exceptional circumstances' for term-time absence. If they are unsure they can refer to their LA for guidance.

In my area it has been deemed as

Parent in armed forces returning from or about to embark tour of duty abroad[/I]

When a holiday is recommended by a health professional due to meddical issue or emotional upheaval.

Where an employee can not be granted any AL in school hols.

Anything else to be referred to LA for advice

All the above have to have written documentation as proof. If your area is following same guidelines as mine you'd qualify with a headed letter as written proof. I have a term-time hol authorised for this academic year for my kids with the above criteria.

I too was wondering how someone could book every school holiday off, how much AL do they get?? I think the suggestion that she's on a term-time contract is probably correct.

meritaten

I suspect that she has it written into her contract that she works term-time only. its the only way she can 'pre-book' them if it isn't done fairly.

Was your OH made aware when he took the job he couldn't have school holiday AL? this would be an important part of HIS contract.
How would the company manage if your OH had to go on the sick during her leave? surely they would get someone in to cover?
I think your OH IS being treated unfairly and if the Union (I suspect it may be USDAW but if its one of the bigger ones) dues may cover a consultation with a Specialist solicitor.

GobbledyGook

Sometimes places with term-time staff (as it seems this woman is if she has all the holidays left) need reminding that they do not count as being 'on holiday' during school holidays. So if one person is allowed off at a time then it should be her plus one other.

meritaten

GobbledyGook wrote: »

Sometimes places with term-time staff (as it seems this woman is if she has all the holidays left) need reminding that they do not count as being 'on holiday' during school holidays. So if one person is allowed off at a time then it should be her plus one other.

Yes - something like this. But, also is the firm honouring the contract Ploddings OH has? doesn't sound like it unless it specifically states something to this effect.

Southend1

I doubt she is on a term time only contract, he works in a supermarket

ska_lover

I work in a large multi national company, but have to work holiday dates around 2 other people. Only one of us can be off at any one point.

It is frustrating, and often last minute requests will be turned down. We work as a team on it and speak to each other saying 'I was planning to book the second week off in June'. And if anyone has any serious objections then they speak up. We operate a similar rota system at Christmas with each of us taking it in turns, or if next in the line aren't bothered let the next person have the option of it. It is the only fair way where everyone can get a shot at what they want.

I would suggest your husband speaks to his colleague and try to set up some kind of rota with her as to alternating the half term breaks for future. He needs to speak to her I think and suggest they work more together rather than her getting what she wants all the time and him being left high and dry

This is the first time I have heard of a firm allowing holidays to be booked up years in advance to be honest - seems so wrong to me

mountainofdebt

Bit of a curve ball here but would it be worth your OH having a word with the woman concerned first?

She may have booked the holidays deliberately in which case going to the management next is the next logical step, or she may have booked them up because she was being a thoughtless cow and may be prepared to share the half terms if she knows your OH wants some time off