Would you do this at work?

[RapunzelsRealMom]

Just a poll really to see if I’m in the minority or not...

If you are relatively serious about your job, not senior but in a responsible role, and you have booked annual leave at work but, at that time, you end up sick , would you bother to ‘reclaim’ the sick days so that you can use the annual leave at a later date?

I suppose it'd depend on the level of 'sick/unwell'? If someone slipped and broke a bone on their 1st day of 2wks leave then they'd still have the 2wks leave to start recovery of say 6wks. However, if they were covered by a 2wk GP note and then could reclaim the additional 2wks hols due to sick note. They'd effectively have 4wks fully paid leave before statutory sick pay kicked in for the last 2wks dependant on contract?

Yes, holiday is there for you to relax and enjoy yourself. If you are ill you are sick and unwell and it’s not enjoyable or relaxing. I say that as someone who held a senior management position, and I would expect staff to do that as well

fuck sure i would and have last year i was off sick and got a week back, in fact my boss had arranged it for me before i mentioned it

We are expected to do so. I expect that your attitude showed op and youve gone down in your employees opinion as a boss (and as a human)

I think it says an awful lot and not in a good way about the people who are stating what a terrible thing it is to follow procedure.
How can you possibly judge someone’s commitment to their career by legally claiming back their annual leave entitlement.
We are all just cogs in the wheel folks although some are obviously way more important than others

It was policy in a previous job (or three). I only used it once though when I was off sick in the lead up to leave and still ill during. My boss told me to do this.

Yes. In my last role we had to provide proof of having seen a GP but as long as that was done, no problem at all to claim days back. I've only done it twice, both times spoke to my boss about when would be most convenient for me to take the days off so made sure I wasn't requesting at busy periods or when others were already off.

Wind your neck in giggly. You have no idea of the circumstances as I have not given them - don't want to drip feed. I haven't stayed her history, whether she had a fit note, whether she was out and about during the period, etc.

Yes. Leave and sickness separate issues. you can not help being ill. We all need holiday time.

Yes I would. We work bloody hard enough as it is, missing time with our families and working out fingers to the bone. Take what you are legally entitled to, as long as you aren't taking the piss.

If I’d had to cancel my holiday I would. I’d use my travel insurance to get my money back and reschedule the holiday so would need the leave.

If I was sick away on holiday or planning to stay home I wouldn’t bother.

If I had a cold/stomach bug etc while I was out then no, I wouldn't bother and would put it down to bad luck. I did claim back 5 days annual leave after i ended up in hospital for a week once, it was actually my boss who brought it to my attention to do so.

Yes and have done.

Bad enough having stupid complicate d miscarriages and without losing my annual entitlement

No tough luck

If my contract allowed it (and it does) then yes I would. If I wasn't on annual leave, I wouldn't be at work, and have a very significant amount of sick leave 'saved' up currently- approximately 950hours. I don't have anywhere similar in annual leave. If I was proper, bed bound felt like death for a week sick. I'd be claiming it as sick leave. Bit of a sniffle, just tough.

If I was ill with something minor like a sickness bug that lasted a day, then no. But if I broke my leg then I would claim the time back. Totally dependent on the circumstances.

Agree with Giggly. You said she had gone down in your estimations because she had claimed back annual leave. Which means your previously good opinion of her has changed. Whether she was out and about is a completely separate question and not what you asked. I suppose you've been a perfect employee in your working life. Honestly, getting yourself all worked up because someone claimed their annual leave back... Even as her manager, it really is absolutely none of your business! If she wants to exercise her rights, that's it. No opinion from you required. Costs you nothing on a personal level. You are being unprofessional, trying to frown upon employment rights being exercised. Remember, OP, if any of us are hit by a bus, the company will fill our positions within weeks. It's really not worth getting so worked up on the organisation's behalf. Ask yourself why it bothers you so much?

God people not taking up rights that have been faught for by unions for years!

It’s your legal right and they absolutely can’t make you provide a sick note since you are allowed to self very for five days legally

In our dept we can claim it back providinv we ring in on the first day of absence you want to claim back. So if off all week and you ring on Tuesday so say you’re unwell, then you’ll only get Tue onwards sick

Self very should say self certify

Yes of course. Why should a person use annual leave for sickness?

To all those people saying it's tough luck and "my firm w I don't allow it" are wrong. It's actually the law that you can!

From gov.uk site:

"If an employee is ill just before or during their holiday, they can take it as sick leave instead."

Having said this, I was ill during holiday a couple of weeks ago and didn't reclaim it. I feel guilty and also don't want to build up too much sick leave.

Yes as a manager in the Civil Service I was made to take them as sick leave and not holiday. I always encouraged my staff to do the same.

I once posted on FB that I was ill on AL, I was overseas and I came down with a streaming flu thing for 3 days - fever and shouty dreams, enough to call a doctor in. When I got back to work I found out that a colleague that I was friends with on FB had mentioned it and I had had 1 week of AL recredited. I queried it and was told that I work hard, AL is for rest, relaxation and family time, not to be ill. They were quite right and I have never forgotten this for me or any of my staff.

Yes, I’m in private sector, I’d have no issue with someone doing this if no other performance concerns and I knew they were genuine. I think it’s short sighted not to allow it (and illegal with a doctors certificate), good employees you treat well and with respect will show the same back.

I did this once (a few months ago actually). I was really poorly (hospitalised) with severe pregnancy complications and pneumonia. Ended up being signed off work for 7 weeks and had 5 days of annual leave in the middle which I reclaimed. Wasn't even a discussion with work, they expected me to do just that. I'd had to cancel my holiday and reclaim accommodation etc on travel insurance. Don't believe this shows any lack of commitment to work or my career...