Hospital Appointment Taken As Holiday

clairey_bear

I need help with a HR kind of related question. Sorry if this is long winded...

I have booked a day off holiday from work with plenty of notice. My boss didn't notice the form I left on his keyboard over a week ago. Today I reminded him I was off and he has me to change it as we are now short staffed tomorrow. He has had to send another member of the team to a different department, one returns from holiday and I will be off.

I have been asked to change it because I could cause "financial implications" towards month end to the business due to short staffing as my boss has had to cover the person that was on holiday and now he's back he needs to back to his job and catch up. Plus the other one is in another department and he will have to send someone to my department leaving 2 covering.

I booked a day off as holiday as it is a hospital appointment right in the middle of the day and it's a distance away so not easy to get into work leave and return later therefore I'm giving up a days holiday.

I have been asked to produce my hospital letter so that my boss can go to his boss to prove I have valid reason to be off at this 'crucial' time.

I'm not an unreasonable person but feel this is not fair as I gave plenty of notice and had checked the holiday board which stated no one else was off work, no one covering other departments and everything normal.

Do I have to produce this letter? I know it's not a hardship but don't feel I need to as I'm booking holiday and it's not my fault they haven't prepared in advance. Also I've been asked to come in after the appointment which I could end up arriving about 4.30 and I finish at 6pm to take over and finish off the day. I work in retail/customer service so it's not easy to pick up what someone else has started.

What are people's thoughts? Is there a right answer? I feel a bit let down as I put in a lot if unpaid overtime and feel I don't get much respect and help back.

Many thanks in advance

Claire

pinkshoes

I don't see the issue in showing them the letter. Your holiday had not been approved, so if you have a medical appointment, then just show them the evidence!

As for coming back afterwards, then presumably they will be paying you for this?

clairey_bear

I know but I am having to prove myself because he didn't deal with my request sooner.

I know I can show the letter but I just feel that it doesn't matter if it's not hospital? Should I not be given more than 3 hours notice to change it and not asked to prove its a legitimate reason. He says he's reluctant still to let me have time off even if it is a hospital appointment.

redcard

Show him the letter, stop working unpaid overtime.

There. Problem solved.

clairey_bear

Yes we leave a form on his desk and he advises us if we can't. I hadn't heard back. The only reason I reminded him was because he mentioned me doing something tomorrow and I mentioned I wasn't in.
To be honest I only check the holiday board to confirm no one is off when booking not to confirm its been agreed as he normally says if not.

clairey_bear

Ok will do.

Just wanted to know as it's requesting holiday and didn't want to divulge in everything. I felt I shouldn't have to prove that my holiday request is for a legitimate reason.

Can't help unpaid overtime. If things are delayed in the back office I have to wait until things are finished and the customer collects and leave. I can't just walk out. It's kind of expected.

clairey_bear

The problem is there was leave available when I checked. No one was off and at the time the person covering elsewhere wasn't. Everything was normal.

I have suggested that in the past and was told it wasn't important at the time?!

Takeaway_Addict

He hadn't signed it, you should have checked.

Not really his fault you assumed...

clairey_bear

That's great. Thank you for your help and thoughts.

That's why I posted it, I felt a bit annoyed and wanted to know.

xx

top_drawer_2

I would be annoyed too as he's cocked up and now expects you to backtrack to account for it. Do you think maybe he actually realised and figured since your the only one (easiest?) he can disrupt then to convienently "forget" / not notice the form?

I would produce the letter and state the truth in doing so, that you made these arrangements sometime and have been treated badly as a result of his mistake. And then suggest a more full-proof method of requesting holidays which isn't so dependent on his goodwill to "notice" these forms on his desk. Also stop doing unpaid holiday as its clearly not appreciated, you have children to collect / appointments to attend / arrangements after work etc.

What your describing happens on a regular basis, where I work.

TD

FBaby

The problem is that you didn't say it was very important you had the day off on that day and knowing that, didn't follow up within days that it was ok.

On this basis, it seems reasonable that they ask for evidence that it is essential you take the day off. Remember, they don't have to grant you your requested day off no matter how long before you ask for it.