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Original poster

If your teens work, do you book holidays with them before or after...

53 replies

BrainOutsourced · 12/02/2024 19:36

They ask for leave?

Teen employee seems surprised leave was denied. Parents apparently booked their holiday for half term and both teen and parents just expected us to say yes. Teen is now saying but Parents have already booked it! As if that's a reason we have to allow it!

Do parents not realise their teens job has the same leave expectations as their own job? It needs approval, notice and can be denied due to business need (ie half term being the busier) or too many people being off already.

OP posts:
SE13Mummy · 12/02/2024 19:38

My teen has a zero hours job, as does everyone of their friends that works. If they want to work instead of coming away with us, they do.

mitogoshi · 12/02/2024 19:41

They should ask but in reality if it's a zero hours contract I would not be holidaying around such a job

Hecate01 · 12/02/2024 19:41

I feel your pain, I have the same trouble in work with teenagers.

I suspect that the parents have told them to ask but they forget about it and just say yes it's done.

People who think they are entitled to holidays whenever they want wind me up full stop, I wish people would realise that they put a request in for annual leave and there's no legal requirement that they have it when they want.

Original poster
BrainOutsourced · 12/02/2024 19:43

Interesting. This is a contracted hours job, we dont do zero hours contracts. Do you still give sufficient notice?

Tbh I would hate the hassle of zero hour contracts! Staff would be constantly calling sick/off. No thanks! I prefer to run a schedule with consistent hours and I know if I need to cover someone's holiday! But then we also have a small team, so I guess it would work with 30 or so teens with flexibility for example.

OP posts:
Original poster
BrainOutsourced · 12/02/2024 19:47

Hecate01 · 12/02/2024 19:41

I feel your pain, I have the same trouble in work with teenagers.

I suspect that the parents have told them to ask but they forget about it and just say yes it's done.

People who think they are entitled to holidays whenever they want wind me up full stop, I wish people would realise that they put a request in for annual leave and there's no legal requirement that they have it when they want.

Oh it was presented as parents have booked an have told me to tell you. That's not how it works!

I suspect they will leave.

I just wondered if parents realise their child may lose their job, that's all! They can come with you, but if they have asked, been denied and then they dont turn up, that doesnt look good. Especially in their probation period. (This is for parents who will not leave their teen at home to work)

OP posts:
BrightGreenGoose · 12/02/2024 19:47

To be fair, we are both teachers and have been since university.
It wouldn't cross my mind to book leave before booking a break as neither of us have ever had to do it.
Edit to add:
Thinking about it I would probably ask him what the procedure was but I wouldn't know.

amiold · 12/02/2024 19:47

What sort of job is it?

Is it a pocket money jobs or long term prospects?

If my teen was waiting on in a cafe for example, 10 hours a week, I'd tell them to leave than lose a holiday. If it's an apprenticeship with long term prospects and in the career they want I'd look at other options.

Original poster
BrainOutsourced · 12/02/2024 19:50

amiold · 12/02/2024 19:47

What sort of job is it?

Is it a pocket money jobs or long term prospects?

If my teen was waiting on in a cafe for example, 10 hours a week, I'd tell them to leave than lose a holiday. If it's an apprenticeship with long term prospects and in the career they want I'd look at other options.

Yes that's basically the choice. You cannot have the leave approved, so either dont go, or leave the job. We will have no trouble recruiting.

It's just the amazement at us saying no that baffles me!

OP posts:
Original poster
BrainOutsourced · 12/02/2024 19:56

I just think it's a shitty position to put your child in if they like their job. Have some respect for their work as well, if that makes sense?, by talking it over and working around them as you would your partner who also works for example.

OP posts:
Original poster
BrainOutsourced · 12/02/2024 19:57

Sorry for multiple messages but also, if I interview someone and they say they left their last job because their parents booked a holiday, they wouldnt be making the cut! (Teens are brutally honest in their interviews!)

OP posts:
Tulipvase · 12/02/2024 20:00

My child works for a supermarket. We haven’t had that issue yet but of course are aware that they will need to book holiday.

Is it a family run/small business? I wonder if that’s why they think they didn’t have to book?

Original poster
BrainOutsourced · 12/02/2024 20:02

No, it's a massive multi national!

OP posts:
Tulipvase · 12/02/2024 20:02

BrainOutsourced · 12/02/2024 20:02

No, it's a massive multi national!

That is odd then.

BrightGreenGoose · 12/02/2024 20:05

I do wonder if his parents are teachers.
Honestly, asking for time at half term tells me they might be.
It doesn't excuse them going about it the wrong way, but it explains the shock at it being denied if they've never experienced it.

Tulipvase · 12/02/2024 20:07

I work in a school but still appreciate other people need to book holiday. It’s a poor excuse if that is what it is……….

themusingsofaninsomniac · 12/02/2024 20:11

amiold · 12/02/2024 19:47

What sort of job is it?

Is it a pocket money jobs or long term prospects?

If my teen was waiting on in a cafe for example, 10 hours a week, I'd tell them to leave than lose a holiday. If it's an apprenticeship with long term prospects and in the career they want I'd look at other options.

This. If the job is disposable I'd be off at that age of denied. Not that you're wrong of course to say no, it's just how it works. They will also likely easily find a replacement job after the holiday. Easier to quit with no responsibilities

themusingsofaninsomniac · 12/02/2024 20:12

BrainOutsourced · 12/02/2024 19:57

Sorry for multiple messages but also, if I interview someone and they say they left their last job because their parents booked a holiday, they wouldnt be making the cut! (Teens are brutally honest in their interviews!)

I wouldn't ever have said that as a teen.. I think people know it would be frowned upon. I'd say it was a temp role or something

Original poster
BrainOutsourced · 12/02/2024 20:14

Parents arent teachers. It think they chose half term as all children are off school. If he had told us at interview he was going away at this point tbh we probably wouldnt have taken him on as we only have so much flexibility. Summer is looking dicey as well!
And before its asked, no we cannot do zero hour contracts, nor can we increase head counts as budgets dont allow. Everyone needs to muck in and cover. Management themselves cover hours, working 60+ hours to cover holiday as it is, and never ever use their entire leave entitlement or toil. We just cannot safely run the business without a minimum number of staff.

OP posts:
amiold · 12/02/2024 20:16

@BrainOutsourced I think if they're a good worker I'd try and accommodate. You saying you'd have no issue recruiting suggests they're not valued and just a number.

Original poster
BrainOutsourced · 12/02/2024 20:17

themusingsofaninsomniac · 12/02/2024 20:12

I wouldn't ever have said that as a teen.. I think people know it would be frowned upon. I'd say it was a temp role or something

Show quote history

Youd be amazed what some of them say! Grin

OP posts:
Original poster
BrainOutsourced · 12/02/2024 20:20

That may have come across wrong and for that I apologise. I meant it is a sought after position.
We do try and accommodate if we can, using minimum safe numbers if needed but the safety of all workers comes first and it isnt ideal to run so thinly.

OP posts:
Hillbilly · 12/02/2024 20:20

We had a similar situation with DD 18. We Had already booked a holiday before she got the job. She was given the time off for holiday thankfully. Now we have an family event about 3hrs drive away so will have to stay over. She has no holiday days left so I was completely prepared for her not to be able to come. But work have been flexible and given her half day off unpaid when they didn't have to. She loves the job and would not have just not turned up. She's an adult and work is work so can't expect to just take time off when she wants and she appreciates that.

Original poster
BrainOutsourced · 12/02/2024 20:23

I think his parents are reluctant to leave him behind. Which I totally understand. Both from a family time point of view, or safety, or perhaps they are over protective, I dont know and wont judge either way. But book the leave with ALL employers first!

OP posts:
cakeorwine · 12/02/2024 20:24

BrainOutsourced · 12/02/2024 20:20

That may have come across wrong and for that I apologise. I meant it is a sought after position.
We do try and accommodate if we can, using minimum safe numbers if needed but the safety of all workers comes first and it isnt ideal to run so thinly.

I thought it was an employees market at the moment.

Teen will probably have no issue getting a job.

I guess it's up to you and your business need. Teen should have checked.

cakeorwine · 12/02/2024 20:25

BrainOutsourced · 12/02/2024 20:14

Parents arent teachers. It think they chose half term as all children are off school. If he had told us at interview he was going away at this point tbh we probably wouldnt have taken him on as we only have so much flexibility. Summer is looking dicey as well!
And before its asked, no we cannot do zero hour contracts, nor can we increase head counts as budgets dont allow. Everyone needs to muck in and cover. Management themselves cover hours, working 60+ hours to cover holiday as it is, and never ever use their entire leave entitlement or toil. We just cannot safely run the business without a minimum number of staff.

Sounds a shit place to work TBH.