Should I feel obligated to work over Xmas holidays?

n1guy

After some advice guys. Long story short, I work for a small company, I’ve not had all my 28 days annual leave this year as it is and unable to take it, only option given is to get paid for it, I get a few days at Christmas but it’s looking very like I won’t even get all of this.

I know my rights, but do I point this out or do I help the employer out?  as it is at the moment, I’ll only have gotten 24 days this year, that includes the scheduled Christmas holidays, if they cut them even more god know what I’ll get. Should I feel guilty wanting my holidays?

plumb1_2

No take your holidays, you are just a number to them. Spend you holiday free time with friends and family 

Boat_to_Bolivia

I share your concern OP...I haven't taken all my holiday entitlement this year and don't feel like I can

Edited to add, I won't be paid for it either.

n1guy

Boat_to_Bolivia said:

I share your concern OP...I haven't taken all my holiday entitlement this year and don't feel like I can

Edited to add, I won't be paid for it either.

Yes it’s a tricky one. By right we should be able to just say “Sod you I’m taking it” but it’s never that easy

easy

plumb1_2 said:

No take your holidays, you are just a number to them. Spend you holiday free time with friends and family 

Actually,  if you work for a small company,  you are probably not just a number.  I also work for a small business,  but because it is small I recognise that the contribution I make is significant,  and my employers know that too.   

You shouldn't feel guilty for wanting your holidays of course,  but my first question is are you sure that the only option given is to be paid in lieu of the untaken days?  Why are there 4 days outstanding -  is it because you didn't get round to booking them,  or did the company ask you to cancel some earlier in the year?  
Talk to your manager/director/whoever,  say you know the policy is that you can't carry unused holiday over,  but is it possible that they will let you do so just this one time  (especially if there just wasn't opportunity to fit in all the days you were due).  

Also think about whether it will significantly impact the business if you do take the time off?  If you don't work these days over Christmas,  does it jeopardise the company being able to trade at all?  You don't want to fight to take 4 days off,  to discover that you have no job at all by end of January!

Most small businesses can/will try to be flexible.  It takes give and take on both sides. Your employer isn't your enemy! 

BTW,  if you can't actually take your holiday days,  at least you will be paid for them.  My contract says that I can carry up to 5 over into next year,  but if I don't take take them, I won't be paid in lieu.

I hope you manage to get what you want,  good luck!

n1guy

easy said:

plumb1_2 said:

No take your holidays, you are just a number to them. Spend you holiday free time with friends and family 

Actually,  if you work for a small company,  you are probably not just a number.  I also work for a small business,  but because it is small I recognise that the contribution I make is significant,  and my employers know that too.   

You shouldn't feel guilty for wanting your holidays of course,  but my first question is are you sure that the only option given is to be paid in lieu of the untaken days?  Why are there 4 days outstanding -  is it because you didn't get round to booking them,  or did the company ask you to cancel some earlier in the year?  
Talk to your manager/director/whoever,  say you know the policy is that you can't carry unused holiday over,  but is it possible that they will let you do so just this one time  (especially if there just wasn't opportunity to fit in all the days you were due).  

Also think about whether it will significantly impact the business if you do take the time off?  If you don't work these days over Christmas,  does it jeopardise the company being able to trade at all?  You don't want to fight to take 4 days off,  to discover that you have no job at all by end of January!

Most small businesses can/will try to be flexible.  It takes give and take on both sides. Your employer isn't your enemy! 

BTW,  if you can't actually take your holiday days,  at least you will be paid for them.  My contract says that I can carry up to 5 over into next year,  but if I don't take take them, I won't be paid in lieu.

I hope you manage to get what you want,  good luck!

I’ll explain how this works.  At the start of the year there are various set holidays, these include things like May Days, Easter Bank holidays, 2 weeks in summer, rest of days are set at companies discretion, I’ve had Easter and the couple of bank holidays, never had the option for the rest of the days as they are when company sets them and they prioritised work over staff holidays, that’s how I’ve ended up with days left. 

Oh I can carry them over however this also is against the law for minimum holidays of 28 days, if you’ve more than 28 days you can carry them over, minimum 28 days have to be taken.

there only is 5 of us, they run skeleton staff, if 1 person is even sick the thing basically comes to a standstill so if I take them yes it will stop training, but the other guys are in same boat, it’s all because of poor management.  We are also all due for redundancy anytime as they are selling up, can’t take voluntary redundancy and they don’t want to shaft themselves 

74jax

n1guy said:

After some advice guys. Long story short, I work for a small company, I’ve not had all my 28 days annual leave this year as it is and unable to take it, only option given is to get paid for it, I get a few days at Christmas but it’s looking very like I won’t even get all of this.

I know my rights, but do I point this out or do I help the employer out?  as it is at the moment, I’ll only have gotten 24 days this year, that includes the scheduled Christmas holidays, if they cut them even more god know what I’ll get. Should I feel guilty wanting my holidays?

I don't think we can say if you should or shouldn't feel guilty for wanting to take holidays. I personally wouldn't but doesn't mean you are wrong if you feel differently to me.
I worked to be able to pay for my lifestyle, however some people work as they love the company and want to make money for the owners not themselves. 
I don't know from your post what you want to do, do you want your holidays and spend time doing your own thing, or do you want to work and enjoy helping them out? If you do want to work, talk to them, see if you can have time off in January (if you want time them) or ask to be paid for them. 

n1guy

74jax said:

n1guy said:

After some advice guys. Long story short, I work for a small company, I’ve not had all my 28 days annual leave this year as it is and unable to take it, only option given is to get paid for it, I get a few days at Christmas but it’s looking very like I won’t even get all of this.

I know my rights, but do I point this out or do I help the employer out?  as it is at the moment, I’ll only have gotten 24 days this year, that includes the scheduled Christmas holidays, if they cut them even more god know what I’ll get. Should I feel guilty wanting my holidays?

I don't think we can say if you should or shouldn't feel guilty for wanting to take holidays. I personally wouldn't but doesn't mean you are wrong if you feel differently to me.
I worked to be able to pay for my lifestyle, however some people work as they love the company and want to make money for the owners not themselves. 
I don't know from your post what you want to do, do you want your holidays and spend time doing your own thing, or do you want to work and enjoy helping them out? If you do want to work, talk to them, see if you can have time off in January (if you want time them) or ask to be paid for them. 

Very much in the work to live camp. I’d love more holidays even if they were unpaid. 

Boat_to_Bolivia

Very much in the work to live camp. I’d love more holidays even if they were unpaid. 

Me too!! My issue around not rocking the boat and taking all my holiday, is the threat of losing my job. 

Ath_Wat

74jax said:

n1guy said:

After some advice guys. Long story short, I work for a small company, I’ve not had all my 28 days annual leave this year as it is and unable to take it, only option given is to get paid for it, I get a few days at Christmas but it’s looking very like I won’t even get all of this.

I know my rights, but do I point this out or do I help the employer out?  as it is at the moment, I’ll only have gotten 24 days this year, that includes the scheduled Christmas holidays, if they cut them even more god know what I’ll get. Should I feel guilty wanting my holidays?

I don't think we can say if you should or shouldn't feel guilty for wanting to take holidays. I personally wouldn't but doesn't mean you are wrong if you feel differently to me.
I worked to be able to pay for my lifestyle, however some people work as they love the company and want to make money for the owners not themselves. 
I don't know from your post what you want to do, do you want your holidays and spend time doing your own thing, or do you want to work and enjoy helping them out? If you do want to work, talk to them, see if you can have time off in January (if you want time them) or ask to be paid for them. 

I cannot say there are no such people.  I can only say that I have never met any.

Savvy_Sue

I'd take a considered view of whether me taking this leave or not was going to be the difference between still having a job at the end of January or not. If you don't think it will make that much difference, ie the company is going down the tubes regardless, I'd definitely want to take the leave. 

And I'd spend the time job hunting ...