crazy holiday policy?

Hagar_uk

More of a moan than question but any feedback welcome.

So our company had an unofficial wishy washy policy of only allowing 2 weeks holiday at anyone time. unless something like a round the world type honeymoon.

Rules being rules happy with this. kept to it. but started seeing other take 12 or 13 days at once for normal summer holiday abroad

When I raised this as wanted to know if rules had changed as I wanted 12 days. Was told it is ten days unless your going abroad and need the time to travel.

slightly miffed as if I want to have a longer holiday I have to pay to go abroad.

being a separated father I like to have my son as long as possible in the summer. but don't really wish to go through the hassle of flying so like being in the UK.

This year maybe i will apply for 2 weeks work one day and apply for 2 days off.

AndyCF

It is no help but all the places I've worked at have had (as far as I can recall) a two week limit on holiday booking, in that you cannot accumulate them over the year and then for instance take three weeks of November off as one "chunk" as such.

paddyrg

I suggest just asking early (like January or before) and explaining that it's because you're trying to be a good father to your son, not for selfish reasons, and that if there's any way you can have even a couple of extra days that you'll work all through Christmas or whatever else is needed, just that you'd really appreciate spending as much time as possible with your boy.

Neil_Jones

Holiday policies can be strange on occasion but remember the key aim will be to keep the business going and obviously that can't happen if every man and his dog wants to take two weeks off in July. I dare say left to their own devices everybody would want either June, July or August off regardless and Spain would be packed to the rafters.

That being said different companies have different policies, I have seen people in work take three weeks off in one go (you are legally entitled to 5.6wks holiday per year full-time, pro-rated if you're part-time) and in some places you have to work hard to fit a week off into the schedule.

What I like to do personally is spread them throughout the year, in my previous job I booked a week off every, say, nine weeks or so and then often put any surplus around bank holiday weekends. It worked well previously, though I've changed jobs since then and I'm planning how to do something similar this time.

getmore4less

Do they really ask to see the holiday booking before/after approval?

If Mon Friday 10days gives a 16day break.

Gavin83

Hagar_uk wrote: »

So our company had an unofficial wishy washy policy of only allowing 2 weeks holiday at anyone time. unless something like a round the world type honeymoon.

This is a common policy. In fact I'd say companies that let you take off more than 2 weeks in one go are the exception rather than the norm.

However I can understand your point but I can appreciate theirs as well. I'd recommend being up front with them, letting them know you want to spend more time with your son and just appealing to their kinder side. That's all you can do really.

TELLIT01

The problem for people taking holidays abroad is that a minority of package deals run Sat/Sat or Sun/Sun. If somebody is travelling on a Tuesday, and returning on a Tuesday they have no choice but to take 11 days.
If staying in the UK most holiday changeover days are weekends.

agrinnall

Tell them you're going abroad but stay at home if that's what you want to do, it's absolutely none of their business where you actually go on holiday.

TELLIT01

agrinnall wrote: »

Tell them you're going abroad but stay at home if that's what you want to do, it's absolutely none of their business where you actually go on holiday.

None of their business where the OP goes on holiday, but most definitely their business if the OP lies in order to get time off.

PasturesNew

Tell the boss it's a European holiday .... then book into Skegness, which is in Europe.

lincroft1710

PasturesNew wrote: »

Tell the boss it's a European holiday .... then book into Skegness, which is in Europe.

The residents of Skegness may not agree with that statement even though it is true.