Holiday Rights

lolacherry

Wonder if I could get some direction as to what rights i have with regards to holidays.

I have been working for my company for 4 years and my "line manager" is a supervisor.

We only have 4 staff and 3 work over the weekdays ans I work weekends.
When putting on for a holiday, I never to short notice, often holidays are submitted at least 2m in advance and even a year - however I have been told that while there is no staff off over this time, I may not get the holidays because "there is no one who can cover"

I've been told on a couple of occasions, including from the supervisor that they do not want to cover the weekends and I can only get the holiday if I can arrange cover - we are not allowed any outside agencies and its proving difficult when thr three other staff who are meant to cover are refusing yet I am to cover their shifts.

I'm about to look for another job because this has been an ongoing battle for the past 2 years.

Any advice would be appreciated 

elsien

They have to give you the minimum statutory leave requirement - that’s not optional. Are they doing that?

Why are they refusing to cover your shifts but you have to cover theirs? I’d be declining to help them out at all, if that was the case.

TELLIT01

The company can dictate when you have your holidays.  I believe it's illegal for them to prevent you taking the statutory minimum but they could, for example, say you have to take your 20 days from 1st to 20th of May.

lolacherry

Thanks everyone,
I am well within my holiday allowance, I do things by the book and I give plenty of notice but the only excuses I have had are "they can't find cover" or a couple have been honest and told they they don't want to work the weekend.

I'm not asking for lots of time, usually it's a day or two here and there but it is as if I am asking for a leg - I've even had to explain "why" I need the time off in order to get them to allow me time off but the whole experience has been so tiring.
I wish I could just say no to covering their shifts when they are off but I try not to be nasty but days like these I am feeling it after I've been ghosted as to whether I can take 1 day off in June!! 

I just wanted to know if I was being unreasonable or maybe I was confused about my rights but I don't believe I'm asking anything too unreasonable- if they are having issues finding cover for my shifts and rejecting my holidays, I am unsure how I can trust getting time off when I really need it.
Small companies I gey the struggle but this is a large company and its been tough.

I think this is now making me realise I need to find a new job now.

lolacherry

Just incase anyone is wondering, the other 3 staff work at the same time as each other so when one is off, the other two "pick up the slack" and I fill in if they need help so In my opinion, they aren't really struggling if one of the weekday staff are off as they are splitting 3 work into 2.

Whereas if they cover me, I am solo but doing the same job, just by myself.

I just don't know if I'm being unreasonable but I always thought as long as no one is off, you should be able to get time off

74jax

lolacherry said:

Thanks everyone,

I wish I could just say no to covering their shifts when they are off but I try not to be nasty but days like these I am feeling it after I've been ghosted as to whether I can take 1 day off in June!! 

I think this is now making me realise I need to find a new job now.

There's no need to be nasty. How are you saying it?

If I was asked and I didn't want to, I'd be polite but say unfortunately no this time.  I wouldn't make an excuse up, and I wouldn't be nasty either. 

General_Grant

TELLIT01 said:

The company can dictate when you have your holidays.  I believe it's illegal for them to prevent you taking the statutory minimum but they could, for example, say you have to take your 20 days from 1st to 20th of May.

No, they couldn't.  That example would only apply if someone were working 7 days a week.

For the OP, we don't know how much their entitlement is.

SiliconChip

As @General_Grant says, we really need to know your entitlement. You say you work weekends, is that only weekends, or do you work on other days plus weekend days? If you only work on the two weekend days then your statutory entitlement would be 11.2 days (5.6 weeks x 2 days), and the only days when you'd be taking those holidays would be at a weekend.

Savvy_Sue

If you put in for a day that isn't 'mission critical' to you, and it's refused, your response should be "OK, please tell me when I can take my leave, as close to that date as possible". Because you are entitled to the leave, and covering for you is their problem not yours. 

Do you, over the course of a year, get your statutory entitlement eventually?

You could, of course, raise a grievance if leave requests aren't granted in a timely fashion. 

Are you in a union? 

Undervalued

lolacherry said:

Thanks everyone,
I am well within my holiday allowance, I do things by the book and I give plenty of notice but the only excuses I have had are "they can't find cover" or a couple have been honest and told they they don't want to work the weekend.

I'm not asking for lots of time, usually it's a day or two here and there but it is as if I am asking for a leg - I've even had to explain "why" I need the time off in order to get them to allow me time off but the whole experience has been so tiring.
I wish I could just say no to covering their shifts when they are off but I try not to be nasty but days like these I am feeling it after I've been ghosted as to whether I can take 1 day off in June!! 

I just wanted to know if I was being unreasonable or maybe I was confused about my rights but I don't believe I'm asking anything too unreasonable- if they are having issues finding cover for my shifts and rejecting my holidays, I am unsure how I can trust getting time off when I really need it.
Small companies I gey the struggle but this is a large company and its been tough.

I think this is now making me realise I need to find a new job now.

I understand it is annoying but there is no legal right to take your holiday when you choose. As has been pointed out an employer can totally dictate when you must take your holiday, just by giving you fairly minimal notice. Any option to apply / book holiday is a benefit, not a right.

Your only right is to a minimum of 28 days paid holiday (assuming you are full time) at some point during the year.

lolacherry

Thanks everyone,
I do work weekdays when required and my holiday entitlement is 25 days (this inc statutory holidays) and this is allowed to be used across the whole week.

I cover weekdays when required, I've only had to say I couldn't cover 1 day in the 4 years because it was my sons birthday that I couldn't miss but all other days I've been asked to cover (usually at least once a month)  I help cover.  At one point i was working 10h 6 days a week for 4 weeks because 2 girls were sick so I always see myself as reasonable and I always ask politely, of course, when I wish a day off and require cover.

I'm just beginning to get agitated as no matter how much notice I give (as mentioned, I gave a years notice for 1 day off and I've been told there might not be cover) and the only requirement they have to be able to take a holiday is "as long as one or two of the girls can cover" but as mentioned, there Is a reluctance to help me when I need to,  so it's getting a little bit annoying.

I don't take sick days, I cover the girls sick days frequently, I try to be friends with everyone - I'm a very happy, positive person and try to keep things upbeat, bring in treats, make everyone coffee and often buying them lunches etc so I'm not the office b***h and appear to be more of a mother figure as I am older and try to be a friendly colleague but sadly it doesn't seem to do anything to help when I need a day off.

I have began job hunting now, while i know companies can dictate holidays, I lost holidays due to not been able to take them and often pushed to take them when I don't need to take them - I've worked 33 years and never encountered this sort of resistance on holidays so maybe its time to see if I can find an easier situation.