September holiday!

[jojogoesbust]

I chose to move my June holiday to September this year. Optimistic I know. I’ve informed my bosses of moving my leave today as a colleague now wants one of the June weeks.
Both bosses are insistent that no travel abroad will happen. I’ve been asked to have time off in the summer and not expect to go in September. Now nervous and don’t know if I should cancel?

[BernadetteRostankowskiWolowitz]

Did you move the trip before getting the leave approved?

[EmotionalFlood]

Depends where you're planning to go I guess? Somewhere in the same country. Probably. America or China, probably not. Our September USA trip is cancelled and Canada in October isn't looking too good either!

[BeingATwatItsABingThing]

As much as I would love a holiday this year, I just don’t think it will happen.

[chocolatesaltyballs22]

I bloody hope we can travel abroad by then. I moved my Easter holiday to the first week in Sept.

But regardless of that your employer can't refuse you the time off on the basis that they don't think travel abroad will be possible by then - what if you wanted a week of to stay at home?

[jojogoesbust]

I didn’t get it approved, I was on leave last week when I changed it. I can normally get whatever leave I want. They aren’t saying I can’t take the time in September but are saying I need to use leave up in summer as they are doubtful I will be able to go. If that makes sense. I guess my optimism was blown away by their doubtfulness about it lol

[jojogoesbust]

Oh and it’s Spain

[BarbaraofSeville]

Your bosses have no idea whether foreign travel will be possible in September and shouldn't be not allowing your September holiday on that basis.

If it's not possible, you'll probably be able to move the holiday again or possibly get a refund, but you shouldn't initiate this yourself or else you're likely to lose a lot of money.

Do you have enough leave to take time off in June and just chill at home/get out and about for walks etc as well as take the time in September, whether it is for your booked holiday or not? A lot of companies are worried about people not taking their holiday allowance as they can't do anything with it, so it makes sense to use some of it, even if you don't go anywhere.

[slartibarti]

Tell the boss you're going to Skegness.

[BarbaraofSeville]

They aren’t saying I can’t take the time in September but are saying I need to use leave up in summer as they are doubtful I will be able to go

Assuming that you're in the UK and get at least 4 weeks to do with as you please, you have enough holiday allowance to take some in the summer, and go away in September.

Tell the boss you're going to Skegness

^ This. Or going to stay with family elsewhere in the UK. We've got^ to be able to be allowed to at least do that by September. And even if we can't, at least you get a week where you don't have to go to work/think about work/get up early in the morning etc.

[BernadetteRostankowskiWolowitz]

Have they told all employees to use a certain amount of leave by a certain time?

[jojogoesbust]

Thanks guys. I have put it on calendar and I was planning to have a week in August anyway. So that should placate them. I think they are thinking of the quarantine but I know that may not be in effect then. It’s mid September so I’m still hopeful

[BarbaraofSeville]

Have they told all employees to use a certain amount of leave by a certain time

Even if they have, that shouldn't stop the OP going away in September if she can actually do that.

I understand them wanting to avoid no-one taking any leave over the lockdown period because you can't do very much and then people wanting to take all of December or March off to use or lose it before the end of the leave year, but if someone has plans in September they should be allowed to keep them.

[jojogoesbust]

@BernadetteRostankowskiWolowitz

Have they told all employees to use a certain amount of leave by a certain time?

No. I work in a large NHS trust and with all the uncertainty a lot of people have not taken leave for whatever reason. EG no where to go. So the trust is trying to encourage annual leave as staff need the break and we will not be able to carry it over

[chocolatesaltyballs22]

Spain have already said they are letting foreign tourists in from 1st July. I'm meant to be going mid July, but obviously it's dependent on FCO advice changing before then.

[ProsperTheBear]

So many people have cancelled their annual leaves, employers have started to wake up to the fact that there won't be anyone at work as soon as holidays are possible!

[jojogoesbust]

@chocolatesaltyballs22

Spain have already said they are letting foreign tourists in from 1st July. I'm meant to be going mid July, but obviously it's dependent on FCO advice changing before then.

They are opening to German tourists from 15th June. I will be watching with interest lol

[chocolatesaltyballs22]

Me too @jojogoesbust - read El Pais in English, it's the Spanish version of the Guardian or similar.