Leave Request Denied Unfairly???

hambleton1

Hi All,

I requested leave last week for April 2019 to go on holiday, this is done using a form which clearly states at the bottom "All requests will be granted on a first come first serve basis". My manager said it should be ok but he wanted to be off for a few days at the same time, and so he asked one of the directors if it would be ok for us both to be off together.

The next day my manager informed me that the director said no. He said because of this I would have to choose other dates.

I feel this is unfair because I requested those dates first, and he has basically taken them from me. Surely he should have said he would choose other dates. The policy is first come first serve. I want some opinions on whether this is right or wrong.

pinkshoes

Perhaps he had already mentioned to the director he wanted this time off too, and because it wasn't ok for both of you to be off, he got there first so you need to pick an alternative date?

Is this a date that falls in the school Easter holidays? Could you not go the other week?

Undervalued

hambleton1 wrote: »

Hi All,

I requested leave last week for April 2019 to go on holiday, this is done using a form which clearly states at the bottom "All requests will be granted on a first come first serve basis". My manager said it should be ok but he wanted to be off for a few days at the same time, and so he asked one of the directors if it would be ok for us both to be off together.

The next day my manager informed me that the director said no. He said because of this I would have to choose other dates.

I feel this is unfair because I requested those dates first, and he has basically taken them from me. Surely he should have said he would choose other dates. The policy is first come first serve. I want some opinions on whether this is right or wrong.

With very few limits an employer can dictate when you can and cannot take your holiday.

The only exception would be if you have a specific contractual entitlement to certain holiday dates, or a specific booking procedure.

Otherwise whilst it might be "unfair" it is not unlawful.

Sorry!

hambleton1

He definitely hadn't requested this himself beforehand. It does fall over Easter, but surely the point is 'first come first serve'?

hambleton1

Undervalued wrote: »

With very few limits an employer can dictate when you can and cannot take your holiday.

The only exception would be if you have a specific contractual entitlement to certain holiday dates, or a specific booking procedure.

Otherwise whilst it might be "unfair" it is not unlawful.

Sorry!

Thank you for your reply. He isn't the employer only my line manager. The director only said we couldn't be off together. I assumed my manager would then offer to choose other dates as I requested them first.

C_Mababejive

Maybe he didnt even ask the director. Maybe the manager is a liar.

[Deleted User]

In a couple of companies I've worked at - to deny someone holiday is spelling it out that they want rid.

Recently I kept being denied holiday requests sitting next to friend booking roughly same time off each same weeks (alright we had gone for alternate days off as even appreciated us both of together would be a no) I nearly got upset but kept professional in asking for a reason why - eventually the Manager came and showed me the central scheduler's calendar where all dates were listed as basically red for stop/no, amber for maybe, green for free. At one point I really thought this was a way they would pitt friends against each other but no, there was logic. I was just booking days that unawares to me was red before I started.

hambleton1

Deleted%20User wrote: »

In a couple of companies I've worked at - to deny someone holiday is spelling it out that they want rid.

Recently I kept being denied holiday requests sitting next to friend booking roughly same time off each same weeks (alright we had gone for alternate days off as even appreciated us both of together would be a no) I nearly got upset but kept professional in asking for a reason why - eventually the Manager came and showed me the central scheduler's calendar where all dates were listed as basically red for stop/no, amber for maybe, green for free. At one point I really thought this was a way they would pitt friends against each other but no, there was logic. I was just booking days that unawares to me was red before I started.

He has never denied a request before. I feel on this occasion he has abused his position by denying a request just because he wanted it instead.

Wyndham

You don't know if he had made his request (officially) before yours. You're making assumptions (based on what you've said on here, if you have more proof then obviously I'm wrong). But have you seen his actual request for the dates? If not, you can't assume, and if so.... er... how?

hambleton1

Wyndham wrote: »

You don't know if he had made his request (officially) before yours. You're making assumptions (based on what you've said on here, if you have more proof then obviously I'm wrong). But have you seen his actual request for the dates? If not, you can't assume, and if so.... er... how?

I know he hasn't requested them because he would have told me. He only said he wants time off at the same time. There is nothing on the calendar either, leave requests are approved very quickly where I work so it would have been on there. Also he never requests anything very far in advance, especially not as far as April.

getmore4less

Raise it with the higher ups and if not satisfied raise a grievance that company policy is not being followed.

Be prepared for unintended consequences.