Employer has steamrollered through leave allowance changes. Can they do this?

V1m_Fuego

My employer has announced changes to holiday leave, takes effect immediately,   We are a company that doesn't currently use Unions (but could so so), we have a staff forum, but don't challenge or ask awkward questions.

The specifics:

Core holiday entitlement isn't changing, but in previous years, the company offered flexibility in carryover, long service years, and flexibility to buy and sell +/- 5 days.  This allowed employees with long service to take upto 40 days a year (25 core allowance, carry over 5, buy 5, upto 5 long service).  The new rules limit total days to 30.   So new employees can buy 5, employees with long service, get the opportunity to buy less, depending on their length of service.  Carryover rules are being totally stopped.

Is this something the company can do, and employees just have to accept it?  Is this something a Union could fight?

There is alot of unrest surrounding it, particularly with longer serving employees, and it's sure to result in many looking for work elsewhere.

getmore4less

there are a number issues with the system as you describe it.

25 days is below the minimum

maybe you have forgotten to mention bank  holidays?

which of the options were contractual?  more likely all were  discretionary 

p00hsticks

V1m_Fuego said:

  We are a company that uses Unions (but could so so),

'Uses' or 'doesn't use' ? If the former, is the union officially recognised by the employer for negotiating purposes ?

V1m_Fuego said:

we have a staff forum, but they appear to be cherrypicked "yes men", that lack impartiality, and certainly don't challenge or ask awkward questions.

It's usual for at least some members of a staff forum to actually be elected by the staff members - if that's not the case, I suggest you put to them that they should be. If they are elected, then the quality / attitude of the people you get will, as in all democratic processes, depends on the willingness of people to both stand and participate. 

V1m_Fuego said:

This allowed employees with long service to take upto 40 days a year (25 core, carry over 5, buy 5).

I can't see how you get to 40 with that (25+5+5) ?

TELLIT01

Assuming the figure of 25 days is excluding Bank Holidays, all staff are in receipt of more than the statutory minimum leave.  I suspect the buying/selling and additional holiday for long service are all discretionary and can therefore be stopped by the employer.  The OP needs to check their contract of employment or staff handbook if such things still exist.  If they state additional holiday after x years it will be more difficult for the employer to change things without consultation.

k3lvc

My employer did similar a couple of years ago and I challenge your view that 'many will look for work elsewhere' - especially those with longer service. Less than 1% of our workforce in UK were impacted (i.e. had taken more than 60 days over a 2 year period) and those that were were given the opportunity to apply for unpaid leave (which had always been on offer anyway)

Our ability to buy/sell holiday was always discretionary/subject to Manager approval and we were reminded of this when we applied each year

p00hsticks

k3lvc said:

My employer did similar a couple of years ago and I challenge your view that 'many will look for work elsewhere' - especially those with longer service.

And I suspect even if they look, they're unlikely to find many places offering 40 days holiday a year (potentially plus bank holidays - the OP still hasn't clarified that)

Marcon

V1m_Fuego said:

My employer has announced changes to holiday leave, takes effect immediately,   We are a company that uses Unions (but could so so), we have a staff forum, but they appear to be cherrypicked "yes men", that lack impartiality, and certainly don't challenge or ask awkward questions.

The specifics:

Core holiday entitlement isn't changing, but in previous years, the company offered flexibility in carryover, long service years, and flexibility to buy and sell +/- 5 days.  This allowed employees with long service to take upto 40 days a year (25 core, carry over 5, buy 5).  The new rules limit total days to 30.   So new employees can buy 5 employees with long service, get the opportunity to buy less, depending on their length of service.  Carryover rules are being stopped.

Is this something the company can do, and employees just have to accept it?  Is this something a Union could fight?

Have they made alterations to existing contractual entitlements? You question is pretty muddled and full of errors, so you may have misunderstood the proposals, too.

V1m_Fuego said:

There is alot of unrest surrounding it, particularly with longer serving employees, and it's sure to result in many looking for work elsewhere.

Really? Sounds unlikely in today's climate of rising unemployment - and looking isn't the same as leaving.

elsien

OP, there's a fair few companies re-evaluating their carry over leave requirements in the current economic situation. 
That is a very generous (very possibly discretionary) holiday policy which those who are threatening to leave are less likely to find elsewhere. 
Sometimes you need to look at the bigger picture, particularly if the long service days are 30  plus bank holidays even after the changes. 

Takeaway_Addict

V1m_Fuego said:

There is alot of unrest surrounding it, particularly with longer serving employees, and it's sure to result in many looking for work elsewhere.

As others have said I doubt hardly anyone would actually leave- lots of grumbling but it in the scheme of things isn't that major an issue and the terms left are still favourable to most workplaces.

V1m_Fuego

Plus BH.

It might be better than many people's deal, but it's something that ensures the company attracts the best people. It's also not that unusual, there are other companies, in the same sector, (fintech) that offer similar flexible leave and flexible working schemes. 

In the new world of working from home, locality is less of a limiting factor. Companies are no longer competing with local companies, but at a national and international level.

I'm also looking at my contract of employment to see the wording around buying days and long service days.

bartelbe

I can understand you annoyance because effectively your employer is giving its longest serving and most loyal staff a pay cut. Alas with the worthless employment laws in this country, there is nothing you can do.