Can a new manager cancel existing holidays?

FBaby

I think both managers have handled this very badly. The first manager showed very bad judgement agreeing the entire period of Christmas off on a first come first term basis as this is totally unfair.

OP you say:

I appreciate that there may be other people who would like time off - but none of them have made any effort to request this - whereas myself (and the 1 other) proactively booked this 10 months in advance.

But for some people, they are not in a position to know that long in advance how much time they might need off and/or when.

I was a single mum too and depended on my ex telling me when he might agree to have the children over the school holidays to decide which days I would want of. Unfortunately, my ex was not collaborative and would never have been able to tell me 10 months in advance. Also, many people are dependent on their partner who might not be able to book so long in advance.

The best system is the one most commonly used which is that 2 months or so before Christmas, everyone is asked to write what their preference is. In my office, no one gets the full two weeks, unless they are going away somewhere and they have already spoken to colleagues about it. Usually, it turns out that people wishes compliment each other, sometimes, we have to compromise, that's life.

Saying that, your boss was silly to make such a fuss over what has already been ageed, when it might very well be that other colleagues might not have an issue with you taking the entire time off whist they work that period as it might very well suits them. However, I wonder whether you are in a position where you and your boss would need to cover each other, in which case, I can understand they wouldn't be too happy to come to a job to find out they would have to work the entire period because the person who also cover them had already taken the full period off. A week each would be the appropriate compromise indeed.

silverwhistle

Mummy_Moo wrote: »

I tried to reach a compromise but she wasn't willing to state when / which days I would be required - she just wants me available over the whole period.

.. and that is why zero hours contracts are a bad thing when the company assume you are at their beck and call. It's basically bad management.

The business has an extremely high staff turnover.

I'm not surprised..

notanewuser

FBaby wrote: »

The best system is the one most commonly used which is that 2 months or so before Christmas, everyone is asked to write what their preference is. In my office, no one gets the full two weeks, unless they are going away somewhere and they have already spoken to colleagues about it. Usually, it turns out that people wishes compliment each other, sometimes, we have to compromise, that's life.

Most commonly used where?!

notanewuser

silverwhistle wrote: »

.. and that is why zero hours contracts are a bad thing when the company assume you are at their beck and call. It's basically bad management.



I'm not surprised..

But the bonus of a zero hours contract is that there's no obligation on either employer or employee. So make yourself unavailable OP*.

*carries a risk of no hours being given/offered in future but achieves the primary objective.

Mummy_Moo

Thanks everyone. I think the issue is resolved (as much as it will be).

I have tried to arrange alternative childcare, unfortunately the only person who can provide this (and yes there is only one) will be working - the system at their place of work is first-come-first served and it is now too late for them to get time off - therefore on the days nursery is closed I have no childcare. I have informed my manager of this and told her that I am happy to work all of the days that nursery is open (including Christmas Eve) but there is nothing I can do about the (few) others. Don't think she's too happy but as notanewuser said, I'm under no obligation to accept shifts on a 0-hour contract. Hope this won't have a negative impact as I'm a good and flexible worker the rest of the time, if not there are always more fish in the sea. Honestly, I like it, but it's a job not a career.

Thanks again for all your feedback.

usefulmale

The company doesn't give a flying fart about you or the rest of the employees. Otherwise, you would be on a guaranteed hours contract and staff turnover would be much lower. Turn down the shifts and look elsewhere. You get one life and your kids only grow up once. Get off your knees and stand up for yourself.