Holiday declined

Savvy_Sue

And yes of course you can ask your union for advice and support. How much help they'll be is another matter.

Bibbitybobbity101

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81860134#Comment_81860134

so going on everyone’s comments yes I did chase it up for months actually, and I was always told, “I’ll look at it tomorrow” “sorry I’ve got a lot on today” multiple times, I’ve got a paper trail of emails to to back this up, we lost our Hr person so there was no one higher to go to other than the union and they said they wouldn’t step in until my manager had basically put something into action (ie declined it) I have found out that we could book for the years ahead! (I was told incorrect information by a team leader on my department who initially told me holidays cannot be booked until renewal which is April of each year) so yes I did put it in last year because it was trip that was gifted to me, the contract does state that the managers have 2 weeks from when the request is submitted to reply to it with either Decline or approve and there is people at my work who have holiday approved for 2027! Either way I contacted my union and they have stated that it’s poor management and nothing that I have done wrong, and manager is now deciding to move people around so I can have the holiday! I was just asking if anyone had been in a similar situation.

Bibbitybobbity101

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81861084#Comment_81861084

following on from that I’m not stupid! I would have never booked a holiday personally if I knew it wouldn’t be approved! I won’t lose out on money, but it’s a trip that was booked by a family member who is no longer alive. I’ve had multiple problems with booking holidays before, even with ample notice and been forced to take my holidays as and when the manager has put it through, not single one of my holiday requests (that I did myself) were approved last year! Meaning I felt like had no time to enjoy anything at all! I didn’t even request weeks at a time, max request I put through was 5 days for a trip I wanted to take away for my birthday lol

Bibbitybobbity101

and based on what I know it goes off X amount of people being off all at the same time, it’s extremely difficult working in a team when everyone’s else has been there 20+ years and they are being favoured because they “always have that time off” the contract states holidays are given on a first come first serve basis, and if you put the request through on the app it doesn’t actually let you request said days it if too many people have because it’s comes up as some sort of “conflict issue” when I submitted my request, there was no conflict issue at all.

QrizB

Yes, speak to your union.

And yes, think about looking for a new employer.

TELLIT01

General advice is never pay for a holiday before the dates have been agreed by the employer. However, that can raise its own problems depending on the systems in place with the employer. One place I worked they allowed holiday requests to be made covering a 3 month period, up to 9 months in advance. Example - holidays for January to March could only be made from July the previous year, April to June from October the previous year etc. The reality was that system only allowed holiday requests for July to be made in January - far too late for those with children to have any chance of prime dates. I knew many who booked much earlier and just prayed they could get the dates.

ohreallƳ

@bibbitybobbity101

Many aspects of this should be regarded as a learning opportunity for you. In future, keep on top of A/L requests and similar. Don't let management off the hook by claiming to be constantly busy or otherwise occupied, that is part of their job, they wanted to position fine, do the work.

To ensure equality of treatment, suggest they consider using a holiday board for all employees whereby holidays are assigned and an individuals allocation would roll on two weeks every year; everyone is treated without favouritism and all get the good with the bad. Develop assertiveness or I suspect this type of behaviour may become increasingly repetitive.

TELLIT01

One option if constantly being given the brush off management in this type of situation would be to e-mail again and say that you have asked 'x' times for a decision. If you haven't been informed to the contrary by such and such a date you will assume the holiday has been approved. Keep the e-mail as, if nothing else, it shows that the manager isn't doing their job if problems arise further down the ling.

ohreallƳ

Good comment from @TELLIT01

Always generate a paper trail as when the brown stuff starts flying around that is clear evidence to support you position and reinforce your point.

It may also be prudent to cc in one of your email addresses and inform your rep as well by cc'ing, it's always prudent to keep steward informed of developments or otherwise, as a quick corridor chat can often head off issues that managers may otherwise not wish to become known within the extended leadership, i.e. they're !!!!!! at their job.

Marvel1

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81863455#Comment_81863455

I would say BCC is better - as it hides who the email has copied too.