Annual Leave 28 February 2022 at 9:30PM in Employment, jobseeking & training 3 replies 162 views

clydfan

Hi

I am currently employed 16.5 hours a week over three days, Mon, Wed and Fri.

Aside from myself there are two full time staff members who work Mon-Fri.

When I took the job on three years ago I was told I would need to cover annual leave which was fair enough.  Where I wasn't available to cover staff from another part of the organisation filled those shifts, however since Covid this has stopped.  The result is that I am being asked to work extra shifts, often last minute (day before, morning of) which causes difficulty arranging childcare (we have no family assistance).

My line manager has told me that if they needed cover and I was on annual leave I would have no choice but to come into work, even if I was actually on a holiday (in the UK).  I'm aware an employer can ask you to cancel leave but thought they had to give notice? And if I am away on holiday surely I should not lose the money I have spent as well as disappointing my family?  My contract states any 3 days out of seven so I understand they can change my working days but surely I am entitled to notice?

Any protests of being unable to cover are met with threats to report me to senior managers or snide remarks about being not being a team player.  Feels like bullying?

Any advice appreciated

Thanks
Clydfan

General_Grant

clydfan said:

Hi

I am currently employed 16.5 hours a week over three days, Mon, Wed and Fri.

Aside from myself there are two full time staff members who work Mon-Fri.

When I took the job on three years ago I was told I would need to cover annual leave which was fair enough.  Where I wasn't available to cover staff from another part of the organisation filled those shifts, however since Covid this has stopped.  The result is that I am being asked to work extra shifts, often last minute (day before, morning of) which causes difficulty arranging childcare (we have no family assistance).

My line manager has told me that if they needed cover and I was on annual leave I would have no choice but to come into work, even if I was actually on a holiday (in the UK).  I'm aware an employer can ask you to cancel leave but thought they had to give notice? And if I am away on holiday surely I should not lose the money I have spent as well as disappointing my family?  My contract states any 3 days out of seven so I understand they can change my working days but surely I am entitled to notice?

Any protests of being unable to cover are met with threats to report me to senior managers or snide remarks about being not being a team player.  Feels like bullying?

Any advice appreciated

Thanks
Clydfan

Of course they have to give notice - twice the amount of time that they are cancelling.  So, if it was for a day, they would need to give 2 days notice.  However, if you are actually on holiday at the time they give that notice, it is difficult to know how they could deliver the notice - as long as you don't answer a phone call from them.

Reporting to senior managers would only show that whoever is doing this would show to those more senior that they weren't managing well.

Savvy_Sue

And in your situation, I'd join a union now ... https://www.tuc.org.uk/joinunion

getmore4less

General_Grant said:

clydfan said:

Hi

I am currently employed 16.5 hours a week over three days, Mon, Wed and Fri.

Aside from myself there are two full time staff members who work Mon-Fri.

When I took the job on three years ago I was told I would need to cover annual leave which was fair enough.  Where I wasn't available to cover staff from another part of the organisation filled those shifts, however since Covid this has stopped.  The result is that I am being asked to work extra shifts, often last minute (day before, morning of) which causes difficulty arranging childcare (we have no family assistance).

My line manager has told me that if they needed cover and I was on annual leave I would have no choice but to come into work, even if I was actually on a holiday (in the UK).  I'm aware an employer can ask you to cancel leave but thought they had to give notice? And if I am away on holiday surely I should not lose the money I have spent as well as disappointing my family?  My contract states any 3 days out of seven so I understand they can change my working days but surely I am entitled to notice?

Any protests of being unable to cover are met with threats to report me to senior managers or snide remarks about being not being a team player.  Feels like bullying?

Any advice appreciated

Thanks
Clydfan

Of course they have to give notice - twice the amount of time that they are cancelling.  So, if it was for a day, they would need to give 2 days notice.  However, if you are actually on holiday at the time they give that notice, it is difficult to know how they could deliver the notice - as long as you don't answer a phone call from them.

Reporting to senior managers would only show that whoever is doing this would show to those more senior that they weren't managing well.

Statutory notice to refuse holiday is only the same as the holiday not twice.

This can be overridden by contract to no notice.

Where a contract/policy has holidays need to be approved that overrides statutory notice.