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Original poster

Can my manager cancel my annual leave for this reason?

26 replies

584tbwps · 07/07/2025 12:05

I work weekends (as well as some weekdays) as part of a small team.

I requested 13th July off months ago, it was approved and today my manager asked me what my plans are, as no one can cover me.

In the past my colleagues have expressed that there's no real incentive to work weekends so they would never do it but where does that leave me? :(

I've been reading online that the employer can absolutely dictate when you take leave but i've also read that colleagues simply not wanting to cover isn't a reasonable reason, it's more if it's an emergency situation/someone's called in sick.

I hardly booked time off on weekends previously so didn't realise this was such an issue until recently.

This happened previously also and as I didn't actually have anything planned (just wanted some time off) I agreed to have it cancelled. Since my colleagues made that comment i'm worrying about the future annual leave i've booked off and had approved too (i've booked and paid for stuff)

Do I have any rights here if the reason is just that no one can cover me? Can my manager argue this under a business need? Or can I argue this as poor management and treating weekend workers unfairly?

OP posts:
Loopytiles · 07/07/2025 12:07

How long have you worked there? Are there other part time workers there?

Candlemidnight · 07/07/2025 12:08

Your employer can dictate when you take your leave. They can also cancel agreed leave.

Booking time off
The general notice period for taking leave is at least twice as long as the amount of leave a worker wants to take, plus 1 day. For example, a worker would give 3 days’ notice for 1 day’s leave.
An employer can refuse a leave request or cancel leave but they must give as much notice as the amount of leave requested, plus 1 day. For example, an employer would give 11 days’ notice if the worker asked for 10 days’ leave.
If the contract says something different about the notice a worker or employer should give, what’s in the contract will apply.
https://www.gov.uk/holiday-entitlement-rights/booking-time-off

Holiday entitlement

Holiday entitlement or annual leave - information for employers and workers on entitlement, calculating leave, taking leave, accruing leave and disputes

https://www.gov.uk/holiday-entitlement-rights/booking-time-off

Candlemidnight · 07/07/2025 12:12

I requested 13th July off months ago, it was approved and today my manager asked me what my plans are, as no one can cover me

If there is no cover, then s/he can cancel your leave. If they want to cancel your leave, they can cancel your leave. I would say by asking you first, they are not discriminating against you, rather they are being considerate and not blanket cancelling it.

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

Employment advice
DorothyStorm · 07/07/2025 12:15

Has each time youve applied for weekend leave has it been cancelled?

Bitzee · 07/07/2025 12:15

Yes they can dictate when you take your leave and they can cancel it unfortunately but they need to give you proper notice- check your contract. Most employers wouldn’t though because they want to keep their staff. Would your manager actually follow through and cancel it? So far it sounds like she’s just asked what you’re doing so hopefully she’ll be ok and figure something else out when you say you’ve booked and paid for stuff. Fingers crossed for you!

Original poster
584tbwps · 07/07/2025 12:44

Thanks for the replies all, I was confused as I read that the reasons my manager is giving are not reasonable and that they can't keep using that reason (colleagues not available to cover) and as I applied months ago there was plenty of time to arrange this (my manager only started asking colleagues last week)

Seems that the manager is definitely allowed to refuse/cancel. Just a little worried now for the future dates but atleast I know now. Thanks

OP posts:
FlowerPower2525 · 07/07/2025 12:46

Just say. I've got a day out booked and paid for that's what I've done in the past.

HelloCheekyCat · 07/07/2025 12:47

Surely they can't cancel your Holliday every time it is a weekend?! what would happen if you wanted 2 weeks off to go abroad?
Colleagues not wanting to work weekends doesn't sound like a good enough reason, maybe they should be checking their contracts to see what it says about holiday cover

aGirlLikeJesamine · 07/07/2025 12:49

i was requested to cancel leave, or at least it was suggested, but i had cinema already booked,

Brefugee · 07/07/2025 12:50

they can cancel it, do you have plans for anything?

Work to the letter of your contract and don't do anyone any favours while you look for a new job.

Your manager is a twat, firstly for agreeing and then not having cover and cancelling, and secondly for managing a team of uncooperative fuckers.

yakkity · 07/07/2025 12:57

Candlemidnight · 07/07/2025 12:08

Your employer can dictate when you take your leave. They can also cancel agreed leave.

Booking time off
The general notice period for taking leave is at least twice as long as the amount of leave a worker wants to take, plus 1 day. For example, a worker would give 3 days’ notice for 1 day’s leave.
An employer can refuse a leave request or cancel leave but they must give as much notice as the amount of leave requested, plus 1 day. For example, an employer would give 11 days’ notice if the worker asked for 10 days’ leave.
If the contract says something different about the notice a worker or employer should give, what’s in the contract will apply.
https://www.gov.uk/holiday-entitlement-rights/booking-time-off

If costs have been incurred like flights and hotel bookings, would the employer be responsible for compensating these? Because I don’t think travel insurance would cover ‘employer changed mind’

Aaron95 · 07/07/2025 13:21

The short answer is that employers can cancel leave for any reason so long as they give adequate notice if the cancellation.

But if they do other than in some exceptional circumstances they are going to quickly find they have a lot of vacant jobs.

getsomehelp · 07/07/2025 13:32

Can you say, you booked it months ago & it was confirmed.
You have booked to take kids to Legoland, or go to a wedding, or visit your ailing parents in Wales.....
They at least need to TRY to find a replacement

yakkity · 07/07/2025 13:51

Wow I got into a bit of a deep dive on this and am so horribly surprised to discover that an employer cancel cancel leave and are not obliged to recompense for lost money due to flights/acvomodation/cruises etc. that’s terrible

PauliString · 07/07/2025 14:58

We did once have this (DH's leave, for a big family trip), and he said "Sure, you enforce that and I'll leave the whole bloody job." I think they could tell he meant it, and suddenly they found the cover.

thisfilmisboring123 · 07/07/2025 15:01

yakkity · 07/07/2025 13:51

Wow I got into a bit of a deep dive on this and am so horribly surprised to discover that an employer cancel cancel leave and are not obliged to recompense for lost money due to flights/acvomodation/cruises etc. that’s terrible

Was just going to post the same!
Bloody awful!

Painrelief · 07/07/2025 15:02

So how are you meant to take your holiday if you can’t take a weekend off? So they expect you to only have holiday Monday to Friday ?

can you take this higher ? I would definitely be putting in a complaint .

yeehawl · 07/07/2025 15:31

I mean, I would just tell my employer that I had things booked and deal with the fallout when I got back. But that doesn’t really go down well on here.

Original poster
584tbwps · 07/07/2025 16:49

I've requested to speak to HR this week just to get some clarity. I completely understand not being granted every annual leave request, but to be refused weekends off when colleagues have openly said they will not be covering full stop puts me in a really crappy position for when I want to go away with the family or if I have somewhere to be.

This then means as pp said I am only able to take off weekdays. A colleague said that weekends is not part of their contract so they cannot be forced, and now that they're all refusing means I can never be off yet I am expected to work Bank Holidays when it's also not in my contract (and Mondays are not my working days)

OP posts:
Vodkaandlemonade · 07/07/2025 16:56

@584tbwps stop working bank holiday Mondays if it's not in your contract.
And tell HR that.

Original poster
584tbwps · 07/07/2025 17:25

@Vodkaandlemonade I definitely will not be after all this. Hopefully i'll have a good update after the meeting with HR.

I just wish there was some kind of rota for these situations. They don't arise often as I take a lot of the leave during weekdays anyways. It's just a shame

OP posts:
SwearyYellowStartish · 07/07/2025 19:20

They can, as others have said, but I would explain that I won’t be there regardless if I had made plans.

Original poster
584tbwps · 08/07/2025 13:43

Hi everyone, just to update you.. I spoke to HR and they confirmed that my leave for this Sunday and upcoming approved leave cannot be cancelled now considering I booked it months ago. She said yes while they can deny requests based on business need, they also can't keep denying me weekend time off just because the team keeps saying no. She said it's down to management to sort out staffing levels. Thanks all for the replies

OP posts:
HelloCheekyCat · 08/07/2025 15:34

Great news, enjoy your time off 😍

Brefugee · 08/07/2025 15:35

584tbwps · 08/07/2025 13:43

Hi everyone, just to update you.. I spoke to HR and they confirmed that my leave for this Sunday and upcoming approved leave cannot be cancelled now considering I booked it months ago. She said yes while they can deny requests based on business need, they also can't keep denying me weekend time off just because the team keeps saying no. She said it's down to management to sort out staffing levels. Thanks all for the replies

good news OP. Follow that up in writing "just to confirm" so that you can wave it under manager's nose...

and enjoy your days off.