Would I be mad to do this? Giving up annual leave

[Coronacantcope]

I have been offered a new job that I will start in January. I enjoy my current job but this will be a promotion. I have an 18mo and work 3 days a week, he goes to nursery.

Basically I have a tonne of accrued leave and when I've worked it all out I could finish actually working next week!! I'd be on leave right through until January. My manager is lovely and v relaxed and I know won't dispute it, she has pretty much told me to tell her when it works out I should finish.

The thing is though, I don't really want to stop working for 2 months. I've really struggled generally with lockdown and work has given me much needed purpose and structure. I feel a bit panicky at the thought of all the time ahead of me. WIB mad to give them a date in early December so that we will at least hopefully be out of the current lockdown?

Can you take extra cash for working?

They can pay you for holidays not taken when you leave

Can’t you be paid for the outstanding annual leave? I thought employers had to do that when you leave.

No, they would effectively then be double paying me and there's no budget for that.

Are you able to get paid for any intake leave? Be a nice wee lump sum.

No, they know I am leaving so they want me to take the holidays rather than pay me extra for them.

id take the holidays
if i wasnt getting paid for them when i left i wouldnt waste them

I think working for free sets a precedent that other colleagues would resent if they found out, so if you do it, keep it quiet.

Could you work half a day a week (say) for some time? Tie off some loose ends and give you a bit of structure.

As in use 2.5 days holiday and work. 0.5 days for 6 weeks instead of working 3 days next week and then stopping.

Of course they may not be keen.

I know why you think it's mad but I'd not bother about the holidays in your position. You are moving on to a great new opportunity and you want to be in the best place mentally to start that so if it benefits you to keep working, keep working. Maybe drop to 2 days a week and finish your job in mid December for a longer Christmas break. It's only a few weeks away now!

@AcornAutumn that's a good point. I'll consider that. I guess I think they won't know. It's a small charity, no HR.

We are in a global pandemic and if you feel that you need to stay working for your mental health then that sounds important.

I wonder about, having a week off here and there. Or, doing some 4 day weeks? Or 3 day weeks?

I would try to find a happy medium so you are having a bit of a break and using some of your leave but still feel comfortable with your schedule.

Also, congratulations on the new job!!!

@Coronacantcope

I have been offered a new job that I will start in January. I enjoy my current job but this will be a promotion. I have an 18mo and work 3 days a week, he goes to nursery.

Basically I have a tonne of accrued leave and when I've worked it all out I could finish actually working next week!! I'd be on leave right through until January. My manager is lovely and v relaxed and I know won't dispute it, she has pretty much told me to tell her when it works out I should finish.

The thing is though, I don't really want to stop working for 2 months. I've really struggled generally with lockdown and work has given me much needed purpose and structure. I feel a bit panicky at the thought of all the time ahead of me. WIB mad to give them a date in early December so that we will at least hopefully be out of the current lockdown?

Assuming you're working from home, can't you just replace work with a personal project. There must be something you've always wanted to learn to do (maybe multiple things). 2 months is a good chunk of time to get some proficienciency going.

Oops sorry just saw you work 3 days per
Week. So maybe take a day to yourself each week - keep your little one in nursery and have a
Self care day each week?

I would personally take the leave but how about dropping your week to working 3 days? You’ll still get some of the structure/feeling of working but with a few long weekends! I can understand not wanting to have empty weeks stretching out ahead of you but imagine waking up Monday morning’s without work, bliss!

Oops, sorry OP just saw you already work 3 days so can’t really lower it. Apologies!

Could you overlap your jobs? So that in January you start at the new job, but are still technically working for the old one too (but are on leave)?

I think you're NUTS!!

Would you really not enjoy the time at home if you know when you'll be starting your new job? (So not undefined like the lock down)

Time to dirt out anything you need done in the house?

No rushing about from nursery to work?

Housework/cooking while DS is at nursery, nothing to have to get done when you're all at home.

Bake for Christmas.

Crochet DS a nativity set or drink gin & read a book...whatever floats your boat....

Bugger me - come & do my job & I'll stay home happily 🤣

Congratulations on your new job!!

If its a charity, why not take the leave and then do some volunteer work?
You could even volunteer to do some stuff for your existing charity but more on your terms. Really don't lose the leave.

Disclaimer: works in a charity, appreciates the need to occupy self but also knows nearly all charities have been full pelt since lockdown so you WILL need a break!

Okay so I've compromised and said beginning of last week of November. That's still 6 weeks until I start my new job, which I think will be more than enough for me!

@WitchesBritchesPumpkinPants the thing is I only went back from mat leave about 6 months ago having taken the full year so I did everything that needed doing at home! Also I love my toddler but 4 days together a week is enough!

I'm a really social person so I do struggle spending days on end without company but I'll look into training courses perhaps.

Thanks for the congratulations

Reading these replies it's possible I need to get better at relaxing too!

I was paid my outstanding holidays in my final pay packet

why not compromise? Take lots of leave but also keep working one day a week . Then take pay in lieu of any unused leave.

If they cannot pay you for the annual leave then you need to take it otherwise you are technically working for free. Might they pay you half of it and you work the other half?