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Original poster

part-timer treated less favourably - advice please

95 replies

Kbear · 29/10/2019 18:30

My boss has given the whole company the day off on Christmas Eve. Some of us are part time, some full time. My colleague is part time and doesn't work Tuesdays so doesn't benefit from the extra day's holiday. Should she be allowed to take an extra another time?

Our feeling is yes she should. Boss says no, it's a perk and it's just unfortunate she doesn't benefit from it.

Can anyone advise please?

OP posts:

Original poster

Kbear · 30/10/2019 09:57

I'm surprised by the part-timers here who are feeling grateful to be part-time but no expecting the same treatment as full timers - it is the law you know, to protect your rights. Bank holidays are pro rated into your holiday entitlement etc.

OP posts:

Tojigornot · 30/10/2019 09:58

Technically she probably should get the pro rata time off, not the full day though.

It is such a mean-spirited response to a nice gesture though. The boss will probably just end up making everyone use annual leave for it.

Original poster

Kbear · 30/10/2019 09:59

I really do care, she's my friend, she was wondering if she was being treated fairly and I thought I'd ask for the wisdom of Mumsnet. I found it patronising to say "why do you care?" that's all.

Over and out.

Thanks all

OP posts:

LonginesPrime · 30/10/2019 10:05

It is such a mean-spirited response to a nice gesture though

Yes, this ^

We're not talking about an ongoing situation where it's every week or where it has a material impact on the part-timer's life in any way, because they get Christmas eve off already.

It's just horrible to be this petty - I hope the part-timer doesn't have DC as it's difficult to ask for flexibility for a doctors/school appointment when you've been this much of a dick about 'fairness'.

StealthPolarBear · 30/10/2019 10:10

"Referring to it as a “perk” really doesn’t help either."
It's a perk of working on that day.

As others have said would she expect a bacon sandwich if they were brought in on a non working day? Or a day off if the place was flooded.

StealthPolarBear · 30/10/2019 10:11

And if the place was flooded on one of her working days would she expect to have to hand over some of her annual leave to make it up

Bufferingkisses · 30/10/2019 12:32

Imo (for what that is worth)... if the boss says "xmas eve off, happy Christmas" that's one thing. If the boss says "xmas eve off this year bit we can't do.it next year as we have too many part timers working on Fridays" (or whatever day it falls) that would be different.

Do you have anyone off sick? Do you think they should get the time back in the way they would if they had annual leave booked?

P1nkHeartLovesCake · 30/10/2019 12:41

So the boss gives his staff xmas eve off, the bastard! What was he thinking with his nice gesture....

No any part timer not working xmas eve shouldn’t be given an extra day off. They weren’t due to work that day anyway, it’s tough luck. Some people really are petty

tinierclanger · 30/10/2019 13:17

It’s not a bacon sandwich and it’s not an emergency event. It’s a planned closure. Paid time off. Really interesting that the employee is being spun as “‘mean spirited”. Surely a generous boss would be saying “ah, PTPERSON, you’re missing out on the bonus extra paid day off- hey, why don’t you finish at lunchtime on your last day before Christmas?”

Anyway, clearly the vast majority of people disagree with me so I’ll accept that the prevailing attitude is the other one. You’re not alone though OP!

EmmaStone · 30/10/2019 13:57

Wow am amazed at the tide of opinion on this. I work PT, and our company has a paid day off before Xmas (not contractual, but we are all informed about it in Oct or Nov). We are specifically told the following:

The office will also be closed on 24th December. This day will be recorded as a ‘Company Day’ and you will not need to book it off as annual leave.

If you do not normally work on this day an additional day will be added to your annual leave allowance.

So I completely think she is being disadvantaged by stint of being part time, when everyone else gets 21 paid days off and she gets 20 (pro-rated).

And yes, PTers DO have to take time off for BHs, it's made up of their holiday allowance.

Reachedsohigh · 30/10/2019 14:28

In your example though EmmaStone full time employees are disadvantaged if PT employees can take a whole additional day of annual leave.

Bufferingkisses · 30/10/2019 15:06

I agree, Emma, your PT employees are being favoured. They get a day to take at a time of their choosing to use to their advantage where the FT employees are being dictated a day to the advantage of the company. Even more so if they are getting a full day rather than a pro rata day.

Teateaandmoretea · 30/10/2019 20:08

If you do not normally work on this day an additional day will be added to your annual leave allowance.

Surely you mean pro-rated?

Teateaandmoretea · 30/10/2019 20:10

But next year it will be their working day and they will be better off. If it's pro-rated which at first view may seem 'fair' then they will owe the company holiday when it is their working day. Otherwise it is actually unfair to full timers.

xraytangocharlie · 30/10/2019 20:18

It depends whether it is a formal day off, or done informally. My firm usually lets everyone finish at lunchtime on Christmas Eve because there's nothing left to do, but it isn't written into a contract, they just stick their head round the door and say Ok everybody, time to go. I only work mornings. That's the way the cookie crumbles.

Oblomov19 · 30/10/2019 20:24

What a wierd thread.

Hamandcheesebaguette · 30/10/2019 20:35

Urgh I remember someone one year who had booked Christmas Eve off. In the new year when she heard we had all been allowed to go home at 12, she demanded a half days annual leave back.

The legalities of it I don't know, but everyone thought she was a mean spirited scrooge.

PurpleCrazyHorse · 30/10/2019 21:25

Not sure of the legalities of it but announcing it so far in advance does seem like it's being given as an extra day off. I've certainly booked off Christmas Eve as a full day and taken the hit when everyone else went home at 1pm or similar. I certainly wouldn't ask for the hours back (because it would stop my boss sending us home early in the future and we would have to work until 5pm).

Personally, I think I'd pick my battles carefully. I totally agree with sticking up for your legal rights but if it's discretionary, I would want to weigh up raising it as an issue vs removal of future benefits. Only your friend can decide what is best for her to do.

ShetlandWife · 30/10/2019 21:31

The boss is right.

She isn't treated less favourably, because on a year she works, she'll get the whole day off and not, say, 4/5th of a day off (if she works 4 days). Basically, it evens out in time.

StealthPolarBear · 31/10/2019 20:57

"
If you do not normally work on this day an additional day will be added to your annual leave allowance."
So if you're part time you get favoured? How is that any fairer?

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