Is it worth getting sacked over?

n1guy

Kind of complicated situation this.  Unlike a lot of businesses over this pandemic our's has taken off, its a small manufacturing company with only 5 employee's, we seem to be hoovering up business from similar companies who have gone to the wall through this, we never closed during lockdown and that's when things took off.

The issue is we've so much work no one is getting any holidays, we don't have enough staff but this doesn't bother 3 of my co workers as they live for overtime and the boss is happy enough, I myself am clocking up 11 hour days 5 days per week and some Saturdays mornings, every single week since mid summer, I am physically knackered, so knackered its caused insomnia which is kinda paradoxical really but anyway.

I myself have 20 days holidays left to use before the end of the year which I can't take, Christmas holidays look like they are canceled due to taking on another massive order which is due out in December.  My boss is more than happy for people to carry holidays over, I would not be lying if I said I have a coworker with holidays left from 2018.  He will more than happily pay for unused holidays or allow to carry over, He is missing the point that carrying holidays over is the employee's choice not the employers, now in theory all is on my side, I could point this all out and I would be rightfully entitled to my holidays but its complicated in that I can not be sacked for this but could well be sacked for some other stupid reason.

How do I handle this given I have no real support from my coworkers?

StevenB12

You can't be sacked for taking your holidays, as they are exactly that, YOURS.
I've always found from my experience anyway that holidays can be negotiated between yourself and employer, oddly enough I am off Thursday and Friday next week, but because others have recently just asked for those days off or people are on the sick, my work place asked if i NEEDED those days off. Do I "need" them? Probably not, but I have things arranged, which they are fine with. And they've also been booked for about 9 weeks lol.

You obviously need to speak to your manager and explain that you need time off this year, or you have things arranged etc. It is down to the employer to manage orders and work loads, not you. Your boss can't expect every worker to want over time or to carry over holidays, doesn't work that way. I work away and most of our weeks are 80/90 hours 7 days a week with every other weekend off, so we tend to try and keep holidays for towards the later part of the year, but work always compensate for this by getting in short term agency staff if needed. Something your employer may want to look at, as eventually I can see those who don't take any holidays burning out.

theoretica

Do you know why your boss wants you to work such long hours rather than employing someone else (even part time?).  WHy is one person better for him than two?  There are some valid possible reasons like not having an extra workstation, but if it is just training and skills he would need to look for that if someone left and would have more flexibility with an extra staff member now.

[Deleted User]

You work in a small company who have made no effort to take on additional staff, have strength you are not likely to get sacked if needed. You've got to do what is right for you, don't rely on colleagues. After 6 months I was asked when I was going to take leave but appreciate my company has a 'use it or lose it' policy fortunately.

n1guy

theoretica said:

Do you know why your boss wants you to work such long hours rather than employing someone else (even part time?).  WHy is one person better for him than two?  There are some valid possible reasons like not having an extra workstation, but if it is just training and skills he would need to look for that if someone left and would have more flexibility with an extra staff member now.

I think he feels some loyalty to his long time employees who live for overtime, Its actually worrying how obsessed they are with it, nothing else in life matters, when overtime stops then all they talk about is getting hours cut "Aw we'll be on a 3 days week soon"  And if they see overtime stopping any time soon they will actually slow the entire thing down to avoid this, the boss knows and see's this but doesn't care its about keeping these pair happy, when I say long time they are both there 35 years each. Myself 6 years.  I think perhaps they both have issues at home which means they don't want to be there if I am honest.

JReacher1

You’re not going to get sacked but if there are only five of you and your three co workers and boss are all very happy then sounds like you are the only person struggling. 

At some point in the future being known as the person who couldn’t cope with the workload may count against you. 

Still it is important to have a good work/life balance so tell your boss you need a break and book a week off. Sounds like you are close to burnout so you must be close to being off with stress anyway which would be worse. 

bouicca21

If other companies have gone to the wall then presumably there is a pool of unemployed workers who would be keen to take on a job with your company.  Maybe your boss is so engrossed I. What is happening that he/she hasn’t actually stood back and thought about taking on a new employee.  Maybe he/she is scared this bulge is temporary, and hasn’t thought about taking someone on a time limited contract.  Open a dialogue.

n1guy

JReacher1 said:

You’re not going to get sacked but if there are only five of you and your three co workers and boss are all very happy then sounds like you are the only person struggling. 

At some point in the future being known as the person who couldn’t cope with the workload may count against you. 

Still it is important to have a good work/life balance so tell your boss you need a break and book a week off. Sounds like you are close to burnout so you must be close to being off with stress anyway which would be worse. 

Exactly, it's this indirect thing that can shoot you in the foot. Don't get me wrong I can do overtime within reason, I've had the odd week or two of over time over the years no problem, this is dragging on since July, every week.

Undervalued

StevenB12 said:

You can't be sacked for taking your holidays, as they are exactly that, YOURS.
I've always found from my experience anyway that holidays can be negotiated between yourself and employer, oddly enough I am off Thursday and Friday next week, but because others have recently just asked for those days off or people are on the sick, my work place asked if i NEEDED those days off. Do I "need" them? Probably not, but I have things arranged, which they are fine with. And they've also been booked for about 9 weeks lol.

You obviously need to speak to your manager and explain that you need time off this year, or you have things arranged etc. It is down to the employer to manage orders and work loads, not you. Your boss can't expect every worker to want over time or to carry over holidays, doesn't work that way. I work away and most of our weeks are 80/90 hours 7 days a week with every other weekend off, so we tend to try and keep holidays for towards the later part of the year, but work always compensate for this by getting in short term agency staff if needed. Something your employer may want to look at, as eventually I can see those who don't take any holidays burning out.

Well you can get sacked for that , or anything, or nothing at all!

Yes, it may well ultimately be ruled as unfair dismissal, if you take them to a tribunal. You would most likely be awarded some compensation but that still leaves you without a job. The vast majority of employment tribunal awards a far less than most people seem to think. So, whenever possible it is far better to try and resolve the situation.

theoretica

Seems to me that running a business with workers in general getting the differing amounts of overtime they want shouldn't be impossible.

Marcon

n1guy said:

Exactly, it's this indirect thing that can shoot you in the foot. Don't get me wrong I can do overtime within reason, I've had the odd week or two of over time over the years no problem, this is dragging on since July, every week.

'Dragging on since July' - have you any idea how hard business owners are having to work to try and keep their businesses going? Most have had an incredibly tough time since the beginning of the year, never mind just a few months.

Keep that in mind when you raise the subject with your employer, as you should. If you can come up with constructive suggestions (some excellent ones above), rather than just a plea of exhaustion, you'll get a more favourable outcome in every sense and hopefully enhance your standing in their eyes as a problem solver, not a problem creator.

Don't let the situation drag on. Your health and wellbeing are of paramount importance to you, even if your boss has other priorities.