Should I feel obligated to work over Xmas holidays?

diystarter7

Hi

Even at larger places, when everyone wanted a long break, ie close to two weeks and little or no cover in the officer on certain days, the manager would look at who had last year off at Xmas and what days etc.

It worked and no one felt guilt etc

I left work years ago btw

Thanks

Phantom151

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. 

That sounds dodgy as hell!

I'll  echo another poster, take the holiday and jobhunt during that time.

elsien

Is this the same employer that you described as bad back in September and that you’ve  previously had holiday issues with?
Not sure that there’s much else to add that hasn’t already been said previously?

n1guy

elsien said:

Is this the same employer that you described as bad back in September and that you’ve  previously had holiday issues with?
Not sure that there’s much else to add that hasn’t already been said previously?

That’s them. I’m hanging on for my redundancy if it would just hurry up, always some issues with holidays

Longwalker

I work for a small family firm, and haven't had my holiday entitlement in the 7 years Ive worked there - but have been paid for unused days - totally illegal as you say,

Where I work, the business is expanding, and part of the expansion is getting the contracts, then investing in the infrastructure - automation - so there have been periods where the work load is just about manageable as long as all the staff are in,, till the new machinery has arrived and things become easier. We are also extremely dependent on holiday trade, so the traditional school holiday periods are off limits to us, makes getting the holidays in tough. What makes it tough is getting staff. We are always recruiting, but whilst the work wont kill you, its heavy, cold and wet. Some start and last till 10 o'clock tea break, others may see the week out. Its a rare breed indeed that enjoys it We could do with 2 extra full timers, but recruiting is the problem

For me being a part timer, Im probably wrong in doing it, but I tend not to ask for holiday unless its a real emergency, or I need a sick day, letting the full timers take theirs 

I also refuse mid week overtime - ie I dont come in on my days off, but am prepared to do an hour extra on my days in, and half day every other Saturday - any more then Id be wanting my holidays

However Im pretty happy in my place of work. We have gone through some very uncertain times with covid and the lockdowns, and whilst other companies doing the same as us shut down, we diversified , worked harder, and kept our jobs and are going strength to strength

Being happy in a place of work makes the carp ok. If I hated going in I would resent not getting my holidays 

MalMonroe

This is what acas says : 

https://www.acas.org.uk/checking-holiday-entitlement/bank-holidays-and-christmas

I'm now self employed but I always worked at places where I didn't have to work any bank holidays, including Christmas. In fact the last job I had, we had two weeks paid holiday at Christmas on top of our annual entitlement. (Rich people, private company). We were also given a Christmas bonus which was commensurate with the profits made during the year. I also worked in the NHS and higher education and in both jobs I accrued quite a few days holiday over the years and was rarely, if ever, denied the holidays I requested. So I feel that I've been very fortunate in the past.

I would have hated to work for someone who was making megabucks but who was not willing to be generous with their workforce. 

As others have suggested, I'd be looking round for a better job for myself. How long do you think you're going to have to wait for that redundancy? 

n1guy

MalMonroe said:

This is what acas says : 

https://www.acas.org.uk/checking-holiday-entitlement/bank-holidays-and-christmas

I'm now self employed but I always worked at places where I didn't have to work any bank holidays, including Christmas. In fact the last job I had, we had two weeks paid holiday at Christmas on top of our annual entitlement. (Rich people, private company). We were also given a Christmas bonus which was commensurate with the profits made during the year. I also worked in the NHS and higher education and in both jobs I accrued quite a few days holiday over the years and was rarely, if ever, denied the holidays I requested. So I feel that I've been very fortunate in the past.

I would have hated to work for someone who was making megabucks but who was not willing to be generous with their workforce. 

As others have suggested, I'd be looking round for a better job for myself. How long do you think you're going to have to wait for that redundancy? 

God only knows.  Site is up for sale, have had a few people looking but don’t think any offers as yet but then I don’t know as we’re not told anything. Pity they won’t let anyone apply for voluntary redundancy, all to suit them I guess. 

At the end of the day I don’t owe them any loyalty anymore really, I am getting made redundant in the hopefully not to distant future 

elsien

How sure are you that you are going to be made redundant? Is it possible that the business could be sold and the people working there would just be TUPE’d over to the new employer? In which case there might not be any redundancies.

n1guy

elsien said:

How sure are you that you are going to be made redundant? Is it possible that the business could be sold and the people working there would just be TUPE’d over to the new employer? In which case there might not be any redundancies.

Could happen but it’s a big building with a lot of unused land attached, it’s prime location for a big housing estate, don’t really know. And of course kept in the dark

n1guy

There’s gonna be two problems coming into play.  If I point these out and do end up getting sacked would I have a case?

problems being not receiving minimum amount of leave and changing leave without the required notice given. 

I wanna make sure I have my facts right before I say anything