Problem with booking holidays from work

DCFC79

Tracey52 wrote: »

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.

The business comes first though, if theres a shortage of staff then it puts a strain on the other staff as theres more work to do etc.

Have always been told to not book a holiday until you have had it confirmed you can have the time off, unfortunately this wasn't followed and the request has been declined.

Southend1

Tracey52 wrote: »

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

Well you can but try. You may be lucky and I hope that you do find someone to cover.

As to finding a more reasonable employer, I think it's much more likely you'll find a less reasonable one as your current employer has acted more than reasonably in the circumstances. It may be possible to find a job that is more suitable for your lifestyle expectations though, for example term time only or zero hours contract.

gettingtheresometime

Tracey52 wrote: »

OK, looks like I'll be handing my notice in and finding a new job then

Talk about dollies and prams.

Surely it occurred to your OH that it was risky booking a holiday when you didn't know you could have the time off?

Poppops

If you can't accept that the answer may be either a yes or a no, you aren't making a request. It's a demand.

Tracey52

My last comment on this, judging by some comments its obvious that some people just like to try and make me look stupid, I may be naive in thinking I have certain rights at work and so I will check with other sites in future, its now obvious to me that I don't have rights regardless of what my contract or company handbook says, however I still feel that if a multi billion pound company owning a store that makes hundreds of thousands a week with an average weekly underspend on staff wages of around £900 for just the section I work in, would have their business suffer just because 1 person would like to have a holiday at a perfectly normal time of the year, and they cant cover it to avoid 'suffering' then maybe I do need to find a new job after all.

Charlotte17

Sorry OP everyone knows never to book a holiday (yes we know it was a surprise and what a surprise it is when you can not take the time off to go on it) until you have confirmation of the time off.

Yes they have acted correctly.

Can the holiday not be changed?

Torry_Quine

Charlotte17 wrote: »

Sorry OP everyone knows never to book a holiday (yes we know it was a surprise and what a surprise it is when you can not take the time off to go on it) until you have confirmation of the time off.

Yes they have acted correctly.

Can the holiday not be changed?

I have to agree here. The person the OP should be angry with is your partner for booking a holiday knowing you may not get the time off.

Takeaway_Addict

Tracey52 wrote: »

My last comment on this, judging by some comments its obvious that some people just like to try and make me look stupid, I may be naive in thinking I have certain rights at work and so I will check with other sites in future, its now obvious to me that I don't have rights regardless of what my contract or company handbook says, however I still feel that if a multi billion pound company owning a store that makes hundreds of thousands a week with an average weekly underspend on staff wages of around £900 for just the section I work in, would have their business suffer just because 1 person would like to have a holiday at a perfectly normal time of the year, and they cant cover it to avoid 'suffering' then maybe I do need to find a new job after all.

But you are the 3rd person asking for it off...

Blame your OH, not your employers reasonable answer

Southend1

OP, I doubt anyone here is trying to make you look stupid. However people who try to assert their rights at work without checking whether they have rights are in danger of making themselves look stupid. We aren't all experts in employment law. However we can all access advice at work via our trade unions.

If you are a member then contact your rep for advice on this matter. I expect it will be in line with the advice given here but at least you will have double checked.

If you're not a union member then join one today so that you can access advice and support next time something like this crops up. USDAW is the biggest union representing retail workers however if your employer recognises a union for bargaining purposes and it isn't USDAW then you would be better to join that one.

keep_calm_and_carry_on_2

OP, I'm guessing that you work in a more "specialised" area of the store, not a "grocery colleague" (this is just a guess, being that some areas of the store are easier to find cover for than perhaps "counters" or "warehouse") Is there no way the other colleague who has the same dates as you would/could swap dates?
Just for the record though, if the store you work in is the store I'm thinking of, there are no such thing as "seasonal" colleagues any more! One of the recent changes. Good luck getting your dates x