Stolen holiday?

[goldengecko]

My office closes at lunchtime on Friday (Christmas Eve) meaning that everyone here will only be working a half day.

I've had Friday (and Thursday) booked off for some time now and it dawned on me yesterday that I'm essentially losing half a day's holiday as I've taken an entire day for what is only a half day of work.

The MD's defence (even though he himself won't be in that day) is that because it's not an "official closure" and just a "goodwill gesture" anyone wanting to take it off needs to take the whole day.

It's not the extra half day that I'm working that bothers me, I'm not THAT petty, it's more the principle. The fact that I turn up on time every day (unlike my colleagues) and always get things done (and on time), I would've hoped would've counted for something.

Instead I feel like I'm being punished for wanting to spend more time with my family over Christmas...

AIBU?

[Sirzy]

Christmas Eve is only Saturday.

But yabu, it's just one of those things. Enjoy your time off and don't worry about it.

[ILoveAGoodBrusselSprout]

YABU That's what happens in our organisation too. Pretty normal I'd say

[Candlelight123]

Yes I'm afraid YABU, this is standard practice in many work places including where I work now. If you want to benefit from the half day you need to cancel your days holiday and work the morning.

[goldengecko]

Sorry, I got my days messed up - I meant Friday, the 23rd!

[UrethaFranklin]

Its the same at our place, you can book the day off if you want to but if the rest of us are then allowed to go home early, you can't get your time back. Its the risk you take.

[Plumpcious]

YANBU. We get a half day (also a goodwill gesture) and lots of people take the whole day off but just book it as half a day's leave. In fact if people book the whole day as leave before the half day is announced, they can amend their leave to take only half a day.

[NapQueen]

Depends. You could have just "risked it" and waited to see what their plans were for Friday (and booked a half day after they announced their plans) or just be happy that you've got the time off guaranteed.

[haveacupoftea]

Same in my work, they can't make exceptions just for one person.

[Bringmewineandcake]

Dh had this one year. We sucked it up because he had the time off guaranteed a month in advance, versus waiting until Xmas week to find out if they'd get an early finish or not. Annoying but meh.

[goldengecko]

I was only made aware of the early closure yesterday. I can't carry my holiday over to next year and today is my last day so can't do anything about it!

[RusholmeRuffian]

YABU, this is standard practice at lots of companies.

[MadHattersWineParty]

Christmas Eve is Saturday!

To be fair, most offices do an early close on the last day before Christmas, or try to. I don't think it's been 'stolen' from you, you booked it off in advance and you don't have to come in at all, I'd leave it at that.

[BarbaraofSeville]

It's quite normal and a bit petty to moan about it to be honest.

If you want the whole day off, take a whole day, otherwise cancel the day's leave and go to work in the morning if you prefer to benefit from a 'free' half day instead.

[Wombatron]

If you book the whole day off you're guaranteed it off. The half day thing is probably unofficial and isn't confirmed until the last minute. It always happened in my firm, but we weren't to take it for granted.

I've always booked the whole day off because I like time to prepare. I've always missed out on the 'free' half day because a)their half day was 2pm and i started at 8.30 - that's not a half day for me and b) if someone put a meeting in for 2pm then I would have to stay for that.

Learn from it and know that if you don't need the whole day, don't book it next year.

[Ahickiefromkinickie]

Too late for this year but lesson learned for next year!

They can't make an exception for you as that would be unfair on others.

Just make sure you're not going above and beyond for your company (working late every etc)

[Glastonbury]

My husband finishes at lunchtime every Friday. If they want the day off they need to take a whole days holiday. It's just the way it works.

[Reality16]

It's half a day, not something I would even give a second thought tbh

[witsender]

If you can't carry it over what are you expecting to do with it anyway?

[goldengecko]

Fair enough, seems I am being unreasonable!

Lesson learned for next year!

[Hellmouth]

That's pretty standard practice to be honest. Your MD is right. At least you don't need to be in for the half day

[user1477282676]

This is like taking a day off and then moaning the others got cake whilst you weren't in.

[VeryBitchyRestingFace]

Have you only started working there recently, OP?

[MyBonnieLiesOverTheOcean]

This is totally normal anywhere I've worked.

We usually get a message on the last working day telling us we can go home after about 1pm if it's OK with our manager. It never benefits me as much as my colleagues though as I only work til 2pm!

Tis tough luck.

[PberryT]

Yabu

Happens everywhere.

[likewhatevs]

I think its proper stingy. Even if its standard.
My boss gave us half a day off on Friday. I'd already booked the full day.
I finish today for Christmas, so they've given me half a day off today instead.
Go my company!