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AIBU?

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Original poster

Would you find this job situation unreasonable?

37 replies

Redvelvetdreams1 · 14/01/2025 16:23

In a job I'm not enjoying, unsure whether to stick it out or look for something else. I'm a trainee atm.

Anyway I booked annual leave 2 months ago for very start of Feb which was approved by my manager. We've received an email this afternoon saying that there will be mandatory training sessions on between 5 and 10 days of each month and that we are strongly encouraged to not take any annual leave on these dates.

So first of all that limits our leave use heavily. Next of all 2 of the dates are in Feb during my holiday but as I say this leave was approved prior to getting any sort of mention of these dates.

They've even put please make every effort to attend even if it's on your non working days. What if you have childcare etc?

They've even said if you miss any of these dates this could affect your chances of finishing training.
I'm not sure what they expect, the email also has a general arsey tone speaking to people as if they're children.
I understand they get time wasters etc. But I hate that whole 'YOU MUST have cameras on for EVERY meeting.'
'DONT think you can answer the door just because you're working from home.'

I dislike the job anyway but this has annoyed me. I don't have much office experience, does this sound like standard work protocol or not?

OP posts:
MolluscMonday · 14/01/2025 16:52

Redvelvetdreams1 · 14/01/2025 16:42

Yeah that's fair enough. Just feels a bit out of order saying you can't take any leave for these 10 days in March. Then it'll be more of a fight to get the existing days off between other staff.

That’s just reality in lots of workplaces I’m afraid. You can’t always take the days you want, for all sorts of reasons.

I’m sorry you’re not enjoying the job though. Will it lead onto anything you might prefer?

Original poster
Redvelvetdreams1 · 14/01/2025 16:51

Yeah over Christmas I've had before and can understand. But this is almost a third of every month for the next 7 months, just seemed excessive. Anyway not much I can do really, apart from hopefully find another job.

OP posts:
JimHalpertsWife · 14/01/2025 16:50

Are they paying people if they come in to attend on a non working day?

Personally, I'd attend if I was already scheduled to work that day only. If it was a non working day, or an annual leave day, they'd not see or hear from me.

PrincessAnne4Eva · 14/01/2025 16:45

Plenty of workplaces have a leave moratorium over Christmas, or other key times in the business cycle. This is no different, as long as they honour your pre-booked leave there are no issues here, just frustrated managers who sound sick of pisstakers who turn their cameras off then going off to answer their door etc.

Original poster
Redvelvetdreams1 · 14/01/2025 16:42

Yeah that's fair enough. Just feels a bit out of order saying you can't take any leave for these 10 days in March. Then it'll be more of a fight to get the existing days off between other staff.

OP posts:
MolluscMonday · 14/01/2025 16:39

Pre-booked leave should still he allowed to be taken. But if I was your line manager i probably wouldn’t let you have any more leave on training days going forwards, otherwise you’ll presumably fall behind?

Keeping your camera on in meetings is considered good etiquette where I am.

Original poster
Redvelvetdreams1 · 14/01/2025 16:35

Different sessions each time, and it's just training specific to this job unless I work in this industry again.

OP posts:
BobLemon · 14/01/2025 16:33

The SAME training sessions each month, or DIFFERENT training sessions each month?

PersephonesPomegranate · 14/01/2025 16:30

My opinion would vary depending on whether this was in-house training that is useless to me outside of the role, or if it's training that I can carry forward to other roles in the future and improves my skillset/CV.

If it's the latter, I'd be happy to be offered 'free' training, would suck it up best I could - wouldn't cancel any pre-booked leave for it, though - and use it to strengthen my position to move roles after August, if I disliked the role.

If it's the former, I wouldn't be enthusiastic but as long as it wasn't causing me huge inconvenience, I'd play the game. If something crops up and I need a training day off, I'd cross that bridge and argue my case when the need arises.

needapokerface · 14/01/2025 16:29

If they want you to do training for the Company on a day that you usually don't work then they have to pay you. If they don't want to pay you don't do the training its that simple. As for your holiday it was booked and authorised prior to this email with the new information, so you just need to say sorry unable to do any of the training dates in Feb prior holiday commitments.

Original poster
Redvelvetdreams1 · 14/01/2025 16:25

Sorry meant 5-10 days of each month between now and August.

OP posts:
Itcantgetanycolder · 14/01/2025 16:25

Fuck that. I’d reply saying you have a foreign holiday booked and your leave was approved previously