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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Have to work during my agreed AL

60 replies

Sillyquestion123 · 18/12/2025 08:09

I’ll start by saying I really like my workplace and we have a very generous AL which includes being off for two weeks in December.

When they announced this, HR requested that we should reschedule our AL if we had already requested it for those two weeks , so I did.

My workload varies massively as I have a portfolio of clients and they can come up with requests at any given time (so sometimes it’s hard to plan).

So I ended up working 3 previous days that I was supposed to be off, and I’ll definitely be working this coming two too.

so AIBU to feel annoyed? I’m still sort of old school in the sense that I can I’ll do things and I WFH, so the lines are even blurrier.

OP posts:
Original poster
Sillyquestion123 · 18/12/2025 10:03

tanstaafl · 18/12/2025 09:51

Are you on your own AL this week and have the next two weeks off ( starting Mon 22 December ) mandated by the company?

I can see the client/companies position if that’s the case; three weeks of nothing being done is a stretch but it should have been your company who said no personal holidays concurrent with the Christmas break.

I’m in theory off two day this week (from today).

our manager said we had to be “aware” of our inbox the next two weeks

OP posts:
Original poster
Sillyquestion123 · 18/12/2025 10:01

KittyFinlay · 18/12/2025 10:00

It would appear the problem is that OP has no boundaries and refuses to stick up for her legal entitlements and her employer has cottoned on to this and is taking full advantage.

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I actually didn’t know I could carry it over, I’ll look into that as I do feel they “played us” a little bit.

OP posts:
KittyFinlay · 18/12/2025 10:00

Shedmistress · 18/12/2025 09:48

You are legally allowed to carry over 5 days of AL into the next year.

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It would appear the problem is that OP has no boundaries and refuses to stick up for her legal entitlements and her employer has cottoned on to this and is taking full advantage.

203percent · 18/12/2025 09:53

I have to agree it sounds like a terrible place to work OP!

But that doesn't help right now.
Whats your managers response when you remind them you're on AL?

'Derek/Janice - I'm currently on leave as the company mandated. Can you please clarify whether I am getting paid overtime for this work, or how I claim the hours back?

In writing.

Glittertwins · 18/12/2025 09:51

Mine doesn’t either hence I’m off now until Jan!

tanstaafl · 18/12/2025 09:51

Are you on your own AL this week and have the next two weeks off ( starting Mon 22 December ) mandated by the company?

I can see the client/companies position if that’s the case; three weeks of nothing being done is a stretch but it should have been your company who said no personal holidays concurrent with the Christmas break.

Ddakji · 18/12/2025 09:50

Shedmistress · 18/12/2025 09:48

You are legally allowed to carry over 5 days of AL into the next year.

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Legally? My workplace don’t allow this.

Shedmistress · 18/12/2025 09:48

Sillyquestion123 · 18/12/2025 09:44

Unfortunately I won’t and AL won’t be rolled over to the next year (and it expires in December)

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You are legally allowed to carry over 5 days of AL into the next year.

Glittertwins · 18/12/2025 09:46

Well, you don’t work when you are on AL and your manager should be arranging cover.

Original poster
Sillyquestion123 · 18/12/2025 09:44

rwalker · 18/12/2025 09:29

As long as you get the time back and it’s a good job I think it’s a case of you take the rough with the smooth

Unfortunately I won’t and AL won’t be rolled over to the next year (and it expires in December)

OP posts:
EuclidianGeometryFan · 18/12/2025 09:40

Sillyquestion123 · 18/12/2025 08:49

The main problem is that my clients’ “success” is tied to my own, so if they fail or cancel their contracts is in me.

i also work with two completely diff time zones and everybody is annoyed at the product (software) so the super white glove service is to compensate that.

The software you are selling is crap, the time zones are a pain in the arse, the clients are annoyed, and wearing white gloves is not going to save this company.
Start looking for a new job after Christmas.

rwalker · 18/12/2025 09:29

As long as you get the time back and it’s a good job I think it’s a case of you take the rough with the smooth

Shedmistress · 18/12/2025 09:28

Sillyquestion123 · 18/12/2025 09:20

Which I’ve done, but my clients (3 in this case) and my manager this morning decided to pile up more things that need to be wrapped up.

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You need to feed this back to your manager to sort out.

StitchHappens · 18/12/2025 09:26

I think whether or not you are being unreasonable depends on whether or not you were able to refuse the 'request' to cancel the AL or not. If you had a choice then you were accepting the fact that it may mean you had to work. If you didn't then it's slightly more unfair, but there are plenty of places where working over Christmas isn't negotiable and December holidays are out of the question. A lot comes down to your contract with them and how your working hours are set.

KittyFinlay · 18/12/2025 09:22

Sillyquestion123 · 18/12/2025 09:20

Which I’ve done, but my clients (3 in this case) and my manager this morning decided to pile up more things that need to be wrapped up.

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You shouldn't even be checking work accounts, but if they are sending messages to personal devices, "I am on annual leave now and look forward to speaking to you in the New Year. Merry Christmas!"

Original poster
Sillyquestion123 · 18/12/2025 09:20

KittyFinlay · 18/12/2025 09:17

YABU for accepting it.

Your OOO needs to say, "I am on leave with no access to emails and will return on X. Please contact Y in my absence."

Which I’ve done, but my clients (3 in this case) and my manager this morning decided to pile up more things that need to be wrapped up.

OP posts:
Original poster
Sillyquestion123 · 18/12/2025 09:20

KittyFinlay · 18/12/2025 09:17

YABU for accepting it.

Your OOO needs to say, "I am on leave with no access to emails and will return on X. Please contact Y in my absence."

Which I’ve done, but my clients (3 in this case) and my manager this morning decided to pile up more things that need to be wrapped up.

OP posts:
Original poster
Sillyquestion123 · 18/12/2025 09:20

KittyFinlay · 18/12/2025 09:17

YABU for accepting it.

Your OOO needs to say, "I am on leave with no access to emails and will return on X. Please contact Y in my absence."

Which I’ve done, but my clients (3 in this case) and my manager this morning decided to pile up more things that need to be wrapped up.

OP posts:
Glittertwins · 18/12/2025 09:19

You do have a choice though - escalate it as you are on leave. Or as PP have said, your OOO has cover contact details in it.

KittyFinlay · 18/12/2025 09:17

YABU for accepting it.

Your OOO needs to say, "I am on leave with no access to emails and will return on X. Please contact Y in my absence."

Catza · 18/12/2025 09:14

Shedmistress · 18/12/2025 08:37

No, TOIL is supposed to be a planned workload that is applied for and accounted for over and above the working hours. Not for not taking the leave you that you have planned and applied for. This is more blurring of lines.

The OP really needs to get a handle on workng hours, planning time and sticking to it.

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That largely depends on where the pressure to work is coming from. If it's elected by OP to work during her AL, then sure. If there is an expectation from the top that she will do that, then TOIL is a reasonable way to handle that.

Original poster
Sillyquestion123 · 18/12/2025 09:12

Shedmistress · 18/12/2025 08:53

The problem is that you are providing a service that your working arrangements are unable to be flexible towards.

The best solution to this is to come up with a solution that offers 24/7 cover to the clients and allows you to take your legally required annual leave. You cannot run a single person 24/7 service so something has to give.

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BAU is definitely covered it’s the random out of nowhere requests that pile up. One of our clients is particularly bad and the plan is to charge them extra.

and yes a couple didn’t send their deliverables until
last night, and maybe I could have said “sorry too late” but that contract is at risk so I don’t feel I have a choice

OP posts:
AirborneElephant · 18/12/2025 08:57

Sillyquestion123 · 18/12/2025 08:49

The main problem is that my clients’ “success” is tied to my own, so if they fail or cancel their contracts is in me.

i also work with two completely diff time zones and everybody is annoyed at the product (software) so the super white glove service is to compensate that.

In that case this feels about 50:50 a you problem and an employer issue. In that type of environment you either need to get better at proactively planning (eg call clients the week before to let them know and ask if they have any issues or requests), arrange a buddy cover system with a colleague, just accept it and take the time back in quieter times, or accept a bit of negative feedback from some clients. Equally your employer should be arranging the cover system and making more resources available if the product is faulty.

But in any case YANBU to be annoyed, it sucks and I’m sorry.

Shedmistress · 18/12/2025 08:53

Sillyquestion123 · 18/12/2025 08:49

The main problem is that my clients’ “success” is tied to my own, so if they fail or cancel their contracts is in me.

i also work with two completely diff time zones and everybody is annoyed at the product (software) so the super white glove service is to compensate that.

The problem is that you are providing a service that your working arrangements are unable to be flexible towards.

The best solution to this is to come up with a solution that offers 24/7 cover to the clients and allows you to take your legally required annual leave. You cannot run a single person 24/7 service so something has to give.

Original poster
Sillyquestion123 · 18/12/2025 08:49

The main problem is that my clients’ “success” is tied to my own, so if they fail or cancel their contracts is in me.

i also work with two completely diff time zones and everybody is annoyed at the product (software) so the super white glove service is to compensate that.

OP posts: