Problem with booking holidays from work

Savvy_Sue

If you don't know the people who work at different times to you, is there not a noticeboard where you can put up a request for cover?

Southend1

Savvy_Sue wrote: »

If you don't know the people who work at different times to you, is there not a noticeboard where you can put up a request for cover?

I suggested that already Sue but OP has decided it's easier for her to resign!

Tracey52

In reply to southend1, the handbook says all requests of 2 consecutive weeks in the summer holidays must be applied for at least 3 months in advance, which I've done, only to be told that I'm not allowed 2 consecutive weeks in the summer holidays ( in direct conflict with what the handbook states ) secondly I have offered to take them unpaid so then my wages would cover any staff that had to be called in but I have had no reply to that request. As for the hospital appointments, they have all fallen in the same week in march and as I previously received a warning for having 3 days off in 6 months I do not want the same thing to happen.
Poppie68, I have not put in a 'special request, just a normal holiday request at what is usually considered a perfectly normal time to take a summer holiday, the manager is appearing to make his own rules in contradiction to company rules, and as you say, seasonal staff are there to cover normal staff holiday levels and surely that means summer holidays? My concern is that the manager is NOT using that facility, again contradicting company policy and company ruling of seasonal staff having to work 6 weeks over the summer period, please tell me where I'm wrong in my thinking.
Again, as I previously said, they know full well how difficult it is for me to sort my own cover for time off, yet do not appear willing to help.

Tracey52

Savvy sue & southend1, the way of trying to get cover is to fill in what is called a shift swap form and leave it with section leaders to pass around on other shifts, I have filled these in but they don't get passed around, just shoved to the back of a pile of papers and forgotten, so apart from me going into work at all hours on my days off and physically speaking to others ( which I have done at times ) I don't see what else I can do, we have no notice board available in canteen for this purpose.

Southend1

Tracey52 wrote: »

In reply to southend1, the handbook says all requests of 2 consecutive weeks in the summer holidays must be applied for at least 3 months in advance, which I've done, only to be told that I'm not allowed 2 consecutive weeks in the summer holidays ( in direct conflict with what the handbook states ) secondly I have offered to take them unpaid so then my wages would cover any staff that had to be called in but I have had no reply to that request. As for the hospital appointments, they have all fallen in the same week in march and as I previously received a warning for having 3 days off in 6 months I do not want the same thing to happen.
Poppie68, I have not put in a 'special request, just a normal holiday request at what is usually considered a perfectly normal time to take a summer holiday, the manager is appearing to make his own rules in contradiction to company rules, and as you say, seasonal staff are there to cover normal staff holiday levels and surely that means summer holidays? My concern is that the manager is NOT using that facility, again contradicting company policy and company ruling of seasonal staff having to work 6 weeks over the summer period, please tell me where I'm wrong in my thinking.
Again, as I previously said, they know full well how difficult it is for me to sort my own cover for time off, yet do not appear willing to help.

Look just stop for breath a minute and think about this rationally.

You made a reasonable request for time off.

The employer declined that request and gave a valid reason.

Nothing you have said here suggests that your contract allows you to take holiday whenever you choose.

Therefore the employer has acted reasonably.

You have been offered two alternative options and advised that one is more likely to get you the time off than the other. This is above and beyond what the employer is required to do.

Yes, you are annoyed that the lovely surprise holiday isn't turning out as your partner planned it. However the onus was on you and your partner to book the time off work before booking a holiday.

You now have a number of options. Whichever one you choose, getting cross isn't going to help you.

Therefore you need to either a) resign b) change the dates of the holiday so that it will be authorised at work c) cancel the holiday or d) find cover so that you can take unpaid leave.

My advice to you is to stay calm and try option d). Failing that, try b). Failing that you need to decide between a) or c)!

Southend1

Tracey52 wrote: »

Savvy sue & southend1, the way of trying to get cover is to fill in what is called a shift swap form and leave it with section leaders to pass around on other shifts, I have filled these in but they don't get passed around, just shoved to the back of a pile of papers and forgotten, so apart from me going into work at all hours on my days off and physically speaking to others ( which I have done at times ) I don't see what else I can do, we have no notice board available in canteen for this purpose.

Talk to as many people as possible. Ask team leaders very nicely to mention it at team meetings. Print leaflets and put them in the break room or slide them into people's lockers. Ask other members of your team to pass the word around. Ask a manager if you can use the tannoy to announce your request to colleagues before or after the store closes. Pop in on a Sunday to see if there are any weekend only staff who could cover during the week. Wear a sandwich board and stand outside the store at shift changeovers. Etc etc etc

Sue.D.Nim

Does everyone on your shift work the exact same days/hours as you, or are they sometimes in with other staff on the days you don't work? Rather than you having to go in on days off to speak to other staff, maybe some of the colleagues you DO know could ask around with the people they work with on other days to see if any of them would cover it?

Tracey52

D) I am trying to find cover, but as already explained it isn't easy, changing the holiday dates would mean having to go in term time thereby incurring a fine for taking my child out of school, C) not prepared to do that as we haven't had a proper family holiday in years and I think sometimes family has to come first, so it looks like A might be my only option, hopefully will find an employer who is more reasonable about holidays., I know they're out there cos have never had this problem in any other place I've worked, obviously the retail companies have their own rules.

Tracey52

Southend1 wrote: »

Talk to as many people as possible. Ask team leaders very nicely to mention it at team meetings. Print leaflets and put them in the break room or slide them into people's lockers. Ask other members of your team to pass the word around. Ask a manager if you can use the tannoy to announce your request to colleagues before or after the store closes. Pop in on a Sunday to see if there are any weekend only staff who could cover during the week. Wear a sandwich board and stand outside the store at shift changeovers. Etc etc etc

I have done almost all that ( apart from the sandwich board)

Tracey52

Sue.D.Nim wrote: »

Does everyone on your shift work the exact same days/hours as you, or are they sometimes in with other staff on the days you don't work? Rather than you having to go in on days off to speak to other staff, maybe some of the colleagues you DO know could ask around with the people they work with on other days to see if any of them would cover it?

Am doing that, awaiting replies.