Compulsory Meeting

jessie2017

I was wondering if someone can give me some advice here.
In a few weeks time it is my niece's birthday and so over 8 months ago I booked time off. I have now learned that the annual staff meeting is during my holiday and attendance is compulsory. Can I refuse to attend as I booked that time off as holiday?

If I go I'll have to travel by train to see my niece. Can I ask my company to pay for ticket as it is an expense I am incurring as a result of going to the meeting.


cheerio

getmore4less

If you complain too soon they can just cancel all the holiday if they meet the legal and contractual requirements.

Lil306

Personally I would have thought they wouldn't have a leg to stand on. You booked a holiday well in advance, unless they're prepared to pay for any charges you would lose cancelling then I'd tell them to jog on.

You're entitled to time off in any job. You booked a holiday so take it.

That's just my opinion though. I'm not best person to give advice on this, if anyone in my job told me something was compulsory when I had already booked time off they'd be told where to go and if they sacked me over it or tried disciplinary I'd be going down the tribunal / HR route

stator

Yes your emloyer can cancel your holiday. The rule is that they have to give you the same notice as the length of the holiday. If you booked 5 days off they only have to give you 5 days notice to cancel your holiday.


You can ask for them to pay for your train ticket, but they don't have to.


I just hope you don't develop any illness over your holiday, it always seems to happen to me. Usually on the friday, sometimes even before I've finished work. I'm not joking either.

Comms69

Have you been told YOUR attendance is compulsory, or that attendance in general is.


The general assumption is that only those in work would be required to attend; if it's a general announcement.

jessie2017

Been told that everyones attendance is compulsory.

spadoosh

You might be able to blag them to let you have the day off if you had already bought tickets and had to cancel them but it doesnt sound like thats the plan. It sounds like you had a booked holiday in which you planned to visit your niece by other means than train. Due to the holiday cancellation youve decided the best means of travel is train and would like that paid for, thats less likely to happen.


Id be pointing out to your manager that youve been let down here and trying to get it banked in the favour book.

You can try and go full awkward but theres huge consequences and very risky rewards.

Undervalued

Lil306 wrote: »

Personally I would have thought they wouldn't have a leg to stand on. You booked a holiday well in advance, unless they're prepared to pay for any charges you would lose cancelling then I'd tell them to jog on.

You're entitled to time off in any job. You booked a holiday so take it.

That's just my opinion though. I'm not best person to give advice on this, if anyone in my job told me something was compulsory when I had already booked time off they'd be told where to go and if they sacked me over it or tried disciplinary I'd be going down the tribunal / HR route

Well you would be wrong I'm afraid!

As others have said an employer can cancel holiday just by giving the legally required notice.

If the employee has complied with all of the company's procedures for booking holiday, then they may have a possible claim for any losses they incur. However that is far from clear cut and certainly doesn't stop the employer from cancelling the holiday.

SandraX

If it's a half decent co, you won't need to attend the meeting simple as that. You may want to ask for an update as soon as the meeting ends or the minutes

ATB

getmore4less

Also the statutory notice can be overridden by contractual terms that could give the company the right to shorten any notice requirements.

Comms69

getmore4less wrote: »

Also the statutory notice can be overridden by contractual terms that could give the company the right to shorten any notice requirements.

Im not sure that's correct?