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Work leave

Hello,

I am having an operation in July. I spoke to my boss about this and it was kindly agreed that I would received 10 days paid leave as a goodwill and kind agreement from the MD of the company. Unfortunately I fell genuinely ill for 4 days a few weeks ago. To my surprise, in our calendar at work, my "paid leave" had been turned into authorised absence. Apparently this is because I had been sick. Now I know I have no say what I can I can't have in terms of leave paid or not, and that's at the discretion of the employer, that isn't the reason I'm upset. If I was told in the first instance that the leave was a) unpaid or b) conditional upon amount of sick leave already taken then that would be absolutely fine with me.

I didn't initially think it would be because of my sick leave that I'd taken that the decision was overturned; I spoke to my line manager and she said that they've had to consult a HR company for some advice on the matter and because my surgery is elective, they wouldn't be able to give me paid leave. After further questioning by me, I.e asking why paid leave was agreed in the first place if it was not to be fulfilled, she finally admitted it was because I'd taken some sick leave earlier on before the surgery so the decision had been changed.

I realise there's nothing I can do, but would you guys agree that it's quite a harsh thing to do considering it had already been agreed?
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Comments

  • sangie595
    sangie595 Posts: 6,092 Forumite
    boj27 wrote: »
    Hello,

    I am having an operation in July. I spoke to my boss about this and it was kindly agreed that I would received 10 days paid leave as a goodwill and kind agreement from the MD of the company. Unfortunately I fell genuinely ill for 4 days a few weeks ago. To my surprise, in our calendar at work, my "paid leave" had been turned into authorised absence. Apparently this is because I had been sick. Now I know I have no say what I can I can't have in terms of leave paid or not, and that's at the discretion of the employer, that isn't the reason I'm upset. If I was told in the first instance that the leave was a) unpaid or b) conditional upon amount of sick leave already taken then that would be absolutely fine with me.

    I didn't initially think it would be because of my sick leave that I'd taken that the decision was overturned; I spoke to my line manager and she said that they've had to consult a HR company for some advice on the matter and because my surgery is elective, they wouldn't be able to give me paid leave. After further questioning by me, I.e asking why paid leave was agreed in the first place if it was not to be fulfilled, she finally admitted it was because I'd taken some sick leave earlier on before the surgery so the decision had been changed.

    I realise there's nothing I can do, but would you guys agree that it's quite a harsh thing to do considering it had already been agreed?

    No, sorry, I don't. It might be a tad frustrating / disappointing (for you), but "harsh"? Harsh generally requires at least a final warning for something not very major.
  • sangie595
    sangie595 Posts: 6,092 Forumite
    And seriously - disingenuous or what? You didn't think that it might also have something to do with the fact that you have actually had 5.5 days off in total (more than any of your colleagues, and your manager isn't happy with your performance? Or that you complain about having done the washing up? Really - you don't think these things are relevant?

    I said it on your last thread. I am going to say it again now. You seem to have a rather odd and unrealistic approach to working life which involves expectations that it revolves around you. It doesn't. And if you want to get much past your eight months employment with this company, you need to change your attitude about what you can expect at work.

    https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/5474342
  • FBaby
    FBaby Posts: 18,374 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    Yes, it would have been nice if they'd said 'of course this is only on the understanding that you will not need to take any sick leave time up to that period', but ultimately, it wouldn't have changed the outcome, you still wouldn't have got the paid leave, you would just have been more stressed about it when you were ill and knew there was nothing you could do about it.
  • eschaton
    eschaton Posts: 2,060 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker
    boj27 wrote: »
    Hello,

    I am having an operation in July. I spoke to my boss about this and it was kindly agreed that I would received 10 days paid leave as a goodwill and kind agreement from the MD of the company. Unfortunately I fell genuinely ill for 4 days a few weeks ago. To my surprise, in our calendar at work, my "paid leave" had been turned into authorised absence. Apparently this is because I had been sick. Now I know I have no say what I can I can't have in terms of leave paid or not, and that's at the discretion of the employer, that isn't the reason I'm upset. If I was told in the first instance that the leave was a) unpaid or b) conditional upon amount of sick leave already taken then that would be absolutely fine with me.

    I didn't initially think it would be because of my sick leave that I'd taken that the decision was overturned; I spoke to my line manager and she said that they've had to consult a HR company for some advice on the matter and because my surgery is elective, they wouldn't be able to give me paid leave. After further questioning by me, I.e asking why paid leave was agreed in the first place if it was not to be fulfilled, she finally admitted it was because I'd taken some sick leave earlier on before the surgery so the decision had been changed.

    I realise there's nothing I can do, but would you guys agree that it's quite a harsh thing to do considering it had already been agreed?


    Along with your other post it's like you want sacked.
  • Scorpio33
    Scorpio33 Posts: 747 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 500 Posts Name Dropper
    I think the issue is that they promised initially that it would be paid. Correct me if I am wrong, but if up front, they said "well that is an elective procedure, so you will have to take up annual leave for it", then you would be happier than you are now? The issue is that the promised something, then went back on their word. You are more annoyed about the fact that they have taken something away rather than not have it in the first place?


    In this case, then as long as this is a one off, accept that this was a one error in judgement on your employers part, and get on with things.


    If however you are still hung up on the fact that they won't give you the leave, then think about the fact that they are not required to, and so are not doing anything wrong. Moreover, I suspect that other employers would take a similar stance in that it is an elective procedure.


    In both cases, there is not a lot you can do apart from accept it. Is it harsh? No, they are following the law and in my experience, most employers would take the same approach.
  • FBaby
    FBaby Posts: 18,374 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    I think the issue is that they promised initially that it would be paid.
    Where did you get that it was a promise without conditions? Making an affirmation doesn't make it a promise.
  • boj27
    boj27 Posts: 34 Forumite
    Fifth Anniversary 10 Posts
    Scorpio33 wrote: »
    I think the issue is that they promised initially that it would be paid. Correct me if I am wrong, but if up front, they said "well that is an elective procedure, so you will have to take up annual leave for it", then you would be happier than you are now? The issue is that the promised something, then went back on their word. You are more annoyed about the fact that they have taken something away rather than not have it in the first place?


    In this case, then as long as this is a one off, accept that this was a one error in judgement on your employers part, and get on with things.


    If however you are still hung up on the fact that they won't give you the leave, then think about the fact that they are not required to, and so are not doing anything wrong. Moreover, I suspect that other employers would take a similar stance in that it is an elective procedure.


    In both cases, there is not a lot you can do apart from accept it. Is it harsh? No, they are following the law and in my experience, most employers would take the same approach.

    Yes i didn't mean harsh i meant it was more disappointing in the fact they had gone back on their word even though I had the confirmation given to me in writing.
  • boj27
    boj27 Posts: 34 Forumite
    Fifth Anniversary 10 Posts
    FBaby wrote: »
    Where did you get that it was a promise without conditions? Making an affirmation doesn't make it a promise.

    the confirmation was given to me in writing via email.
  • boj27
    boj27 Posts: 34 Forumite
    Fifth Anniversary 10 Posts
    sangie595 wrote: »
    No, sorry, I don't. It might be a tad frustrating / disappointing (for you), but "harsh"? Harsh generally requires at least a final warning for something not very major.

    Harsh may of been the wrong word, disappointing is what i was looking for really.
  • boj27
    boj27 Posts: 34 Forumite
    Fifth Anniversary 10 Posts
    FBaby wrote: »
    Yes, it would have been nice if they'd said 'of course this is only on the understanding that you will not need to take any sick leave time up to that period', but ultimately, it wouldn't have changed the outcome, you still wouldn't have got the paid leave, you would just have been more stressed about it when you were ill and knew there was nothing you could do about it.

    I would rather of them just say, you must take it as holiday or unpaid leave in the first instance, that I would of been completely fine with.
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