Part time work and Bank Holidays

[TheStaff]

I work part-time 25 hours a week. This equates to 3 days most weeks and the occasional 4th day. I also travel in work time which adds to my flexitime/hours worked balance. I work different days each week depending on my wishes and the business requirement. This coming Xmas and New Year. I have said I will work up to and including Xmas Eve and then the 2 days after New Years Day. Work is closed on Bank Holidays and on the Friday after Boxing Day. In terms of leave Bank Holidays are added to my annual leave entitlement pro-rata. Up until this year if there is a Bank Holiday I just take 7.5 hours off my annual leave total. This year my manager says I can't do this for the first week ie I should work either Monday or Tuesday and then take one of those days off as my non working day, then take 2 of either Xmas day, Boxing Day or the Friday when we are shut (It's UK Civil Service and it's known as a Privilege Day when all must take the day off as part of their leave entitlement) as annual leave for my second and third days. For the second week I cannot take New Years Day off as Annual leave I have to work one of the 2 days before New Years Day. There is no business requirement to actually work, we tidy desks and sit and eat mince pies. People without families like to come in and keep warm. My DH is working from home this year so I want to go to work but not between Xmas and New Year as the kids will be back home. Sorry this is complicated. Working out leave is left to individual managers and mine's a nightmare!

[BernadetteRostankowskiWolowitz]

I'm a little confused sorry.

So week one is Mon/Tues open as normal; Then BH Wed and Thur then a "free" day off for everyone on the Friday?

Week two is Mon/Tues open as normal, then BH Wed, then Thur/Fri open as normal?

And you wish to take week 1 mon/Tues off, and then work all days on week2 apart from NYD?

[TheStaff]

Bernadette your analysis of weeks 1 and 2 is spot on. Week 1 I want to work Monday and Tuesday then take a day's annual leave on one of the other days. Week 2 I want to work Thursday and Friday and take a days annual leave on New Years Day. I wouldn't mind if there was actual work to do, but the actual 'factory' essentially shut for the 2 weeks of Xmas with just bits and bobs going on on Monday and Tuesday before Xmas and the Thursday and Friday after New Year. The Monday and Tuesday of the second week have no business going on at all.

[BernadetteRostankowskiWolowitz]

Is the place open Xmas Day/Boxing Day/NY Day?

[TheStaff]

No it's shut to all.

[leghairdontcare]

So in simple terms, you've requested some leave over Christmas and your manager has declined that request?

[BernadetteRostankowskiWolowitz]

So you want Mon/Tue of week 2 off on holiday and your manager has said no - one day off of either Mon/Tues of week 1 and then one day of either Mon/Tues of week2?

[Ambydex]

I'm confused. This seems to be about your manager declining to let you take leave on certain days over Christmas. Your BH allowance is calculated in hours and added to your A/L which is a robust and straightforward way to do it. So yes it's a pain your manager is not signing off your leave, but I'm not sure where your shift pattern fits into it.

Are they forcing you to work a BH? If so and there's a precedent for FTers getting double pay for that, then you should demand that too. Presumably they have some sort of business reason to want the place open?

[TheStaff]

The second week is the main issue, I only have to work 3 days in a week, I am happy to work the Thursday and the Friday and would like to take A/L on the BH. So my 2 none working days would be the Monday and Tuesday. As I don't work fixed days I don't see why not?

[leghairdontcare]

You said your days were determined by business needs? So same issue if your manager thinks they need you on monday/Tuesday that seems fair?

[ArnoldBee]

In my civil service department your days would be stated in your contract or your application to change your working pattern.