New Job- Pre-Booked Holiday

alexholmes

All,

I’m due to be starting a new job next week, and have received and returned my offer letter and contract to my new employer. During the interview process, it completely slipped my mind to mention that, in May just gone, I booked a holiday for Christmas/New Year (booked at a time when I was not working, and did not know how soon this would change!)

Whilst the holiday is booked for 4 months after I start work, I’d be averse to going in on my few first days/weeks and then booking the time off as I feel that it doesn’t give off the greatest impression.

Would it be best to contact the HR department before my contract begins and inform them of this pre-booked holiday- and find out what their policy is on this- even though it is 4 months after I start?

N.B. The holiday spans 9/10 working days (excluding the bank holidays which I would have off anyway)

BoGoF

Unless your office closes completely over the festive period then, in my experience, getting all the time off is not a given and at times a source of much argument.

Would be wise to flag this up asap.

alexholmes

Les79 wrote: »

I would be very surprised if this holiday over Xmas/New Year had "slipped your mind" (more so because that's a very popular time for holidays).

Sounds more like you have waited until you got your foot in the door and now want to know the best way to secure the time off. Given you weren't open and up-front at the interview stage, it will likely be treated as a normal request and you'll end up at the back of the queue.

No harm in trying what you suggest, mind you, as HR may be willing to accept your explanation.

As someone who has been out of work for a long period of time, I was absolutely buzzing to be interviewed by a company that sounded right up my street. I was very much wrapped up in the here-and-now during the interview and was thrilled to be offered the role. My holiday plans had been well and truly forgotten, so I can therefore assure you that your assumption is miscalculated but, now that the dust has settled, I yesterday remembered that I have this holiday already booked.

However, I agree that it is of course such a popular time for holidays, and hope that my employer does not take my email in the same way that you have!

[Deleted User]

You can only be honest. Your three potential outcomes will be:

A) they say it’s fine and you can have the time off.

they say no and you’ll have to not go on holiday.

C) they so no but if you insist on going, they’ll withdraw the job offer.

alexholmes

MarkN88 wrote: »

You can only be honest. Your three potential outcomes will be:

A) they say it’s fine and you can have the time off.

they say no and you’ll have to not go on holiday.

C) they so no but if you insist on going, they’ll withdraw the job offer.

Agreed- I have no issues whatsoever in accruing holiday as would usually be the case. It’s just the fact that this has already been booked during a time I wasn’t employed and, as has been pointed out above, it’s during peak holiday time, so probably best to make the employer aware asap.

Thanks for replying

alexholmes

Les79 wrote: »

Fair enough! I like being wrong to be honest! The thing is that I've managed employees in the past and this was a very common scenario where new starters would suddenly "remember" about their Xmas/NY holidays once they had a formal job offer.

I can imagine that it’s a very common thing to experience if you’re working on the other side, and I think that gives off a really awful impression of a new starter if it’s done purposely! Takes some guts to do that. If I’d not have been so excited to be in the situation that I was, I’d like to think I’d have enough integrity to be upfront to potential colleagues. As they say, honesty is the best policy

jolfc

My new kitchen assistant forgot to let us know at the interview she had a term time holiday booked ( school kitchen ) She offered to show proof of her booking date if we required it. Could you do that if there was a problem ?

BoGoF

Bottom line is if you really want this job be prepared to cancel the holiday.

alexholmes

jolfc wrote: »

My new kitchen assistant forgot to let us know at the interview she had a term time holiday booked ( school kitchen ) She offered to show proof of her booking date if we required it. Could you do that if there was a problem ?

That wouldn’t be an issue whatsoever. My inbox is perfectly categorised- I knew it would come in handy one day!

jolfc

alexholmes wrote: »

That wouldn’t be an issue whatsoever. My inbox is perfectly categorised- I knew it would come in handy one day!

That is good then. Good luck and hopefully it all works out

Savvy_Sue

alexholmes wrote: »

However, I agree that it is of course such a popular time for holidays, and hope that my employer does not take my email in the same way that you have!

I wouldn't email until I'd phoned. You can start by asking what to do about a pre-booked holiday, and get a feel for whether or not Christmas / New Year is likely to be a problem.



But having done that, and hopfully got agreement in principle, I'd then email to confirm the conversation.