Is this holiday entitlement illegal?

Stu6781

Hi all

I get 28 days holiday allowance (I work full time, 5 days a week mon-fri). This includes the 8 bank holidays, which I know is normal, bringing it down to 20 days. BUT they also take out 3 days between Xmas and new year which the firm shut for regardless (like the majority of companies do) leaving us with just 17 days actual annual leave. Is this legal?

paddyandstumpy

Yes, you are using 3 days leave over Xmas. It's not 'free', it's from your entitlement.

Companies can dictate when holiday is taken, and have simply done so here.

Stu6781

Okay, can I just get some clarification from yourself and others that 17 days actual holiday is embarrassingly low? And that I’ve never heard of a company offering this? Most of my friends get around 22-25 days without bank holidays/Xmas break or whatever BS it might be.

spadoosh

Stu6781 wrote: »

Okay, can I just get some clarification from yourself and others that 17 days actual holiday is embarrassingly low? And that I’ve never heard of a company offering this? Most of my friends get around 22-25 days without bank holidays/Xmas break or whatever BS it might be.

You dont get 17 days holiday.

You get 17 days you can put in for anytime of the year, accepted depending on business needs.

You get 8 days holiday on bank holidays.

And you get 3 days holiday at Christmas.

Thats 28 days holiday.

I get exactly the same amount of holidays. I do however have the flexibility of choosing when these days are. Coincidentally, i always book bank holidays and some time at Christmas. I could work them but it would involve sitting in a office on my own at times when i would want to be with family and friends.

Stu6781

As far as I look at it I get 17 days of chosen holiday days. No one I know gets below 22 days of CHOSEN days. Forget about Xmas break and bank holidays.

p00hsticks

Stu6781 wrote: »

Hi all

I get 28 days holiday allowance (I work full time, 5 days a week mon-fri). This includes the 8 bank holidays, which I know is normal, bringing it down to 20 days. BUT they also take out 3 days between Xmas and new year which the firm shut for regardless (like the majority of companies do) leaving us with just 17 days actual annual leave. Is this legal?

I think you have quite a limited experience of modern work environments. These days many employers only offer the minimum of 28 days holiday. Many no longer work the traditional Monday- Friday, might expect you to work weekends and/or bank holidays, and don't shut down between Christmas and new year.

jackieblack

Stu6781 wrote: »

As far as I look at it I get 17 days of chosen holiday days. No one I know gets below 22 days of CHOSEN days. Forget about Xmas break and bank holidays.

Then you’re looking at it wrong.
Employers can dictate when you take all your holiday days, if they so choose (provided they give you the appropriate period of notice).

You get the legal minimum number of days and your employers are acting perfectly legally.

If you don’t like it, you should look for another job.

spadoosh

Stu6781 wrote: »

As far as I look at it I get 17 days of chosen holiday days. No one I know gets below 22 days of CHOSEN days. Forget about Xmas break and bank holidays.

Very few people get to choose when their holidays are. They make requests and depending on the needs of the business are granted when possible.

I get to 'choose' because i work for the family business. Even then its not a full choice as im the only person who does my job. This limits my available holidays to 26 specific weeks within the year.

You are not hard done to. We employ over 100 people who have their holidays dictated to them, we try and accommodate where possible but as an example you are not allowed to book annual leave at Christmas. You are not allowed to book single days without a very good reason. You are not allowed to book bank holidays. A lot of retaillers do similare, no annual leave over christmas excluding any days here the shop is closed.

Its time to get over it. If youre that upset, look for another job with better holiday entitlement. Because you will not force your employer to give you the holidays you want.

gettingtheresometime

well the other way to look at it is that at least you know you've got the Christmas period off and don't have to enter into brexit style negotiations with your colleagues!

ohreally

Employer is not breaching legislation in acting this way. Cast an eye around for terms of service that suit you better.

getmore4less

jackieblack wrote: »

Then you’re looking at it wrong.
Employers can dictate when you take all your holiday days, if they so choose (provided they give you the appropriate period of notice).

You get the legal minimum number of days and your employers are acting perfectly legally.

If you don’t like it, you should look for another job.

Which can be Zero if the contract allows for it.

Clauses like "holidays need to be approved" override the statutory notice for holidays for requesting holiday.