...to book my days off for Christmas now?

[TabbyM]

I have recently moved department but have the same post. Our annual leave year runs April-March, so I decided that after last year's bereavement I would be organised and actually book time off in advance. So I put my form in today. Now the weeks I asked for in summer have been ok'd but the festive days returned with a comment that cover is required. AIBU in thinking that I'm not jumping at the first opportunity to ask and the other 4 in the team could also do so? In previous area never had a problem as long as 1 person could go in and there was always a volunteer, nobody was pressured into it. I also live a hundred miles away from my family and don't drive so need to be careful about days when trains run etc.

YANBU to put in your request in a way that is compliant with the company policy.

Do you have a job that needs a minimum level of staffing - so if you are not there then other people have to be there? And so is the holiday policy first-come-first-served or are there rules about who can take what?

I don't think YABU, I booked the week immediately before Christmas off back in Feb to make sure I got the dates I needed (our company closes over the Christmas break, I also have family scattered and +200 miles away to visit).

Does your organisation have a rota or similar to ensure you take turns on working on those dates? If so, maybe you're just ahead of HR?

I don't understand. What do they mean by 'cover is required'. Does that mean they are refusing the request altogether, or saying you need to arrange cover, or is this because Christmas holidays are arranged separately and fairly, taking turns or whatever as many organisations do?

I do this every year to visit family in the states. I think it gives my work fair warning I am taking off.

Always book holiday as soon as you know you want it, DH is useless at doing that, he leaves it far too late and sometimes someone else has booked it in the meantime. He doesn't see the point of doing it more than a week in advance stupid man

YANBU OP. Good luck to you.

I tried to book some time off just after Christmas for the school summer holidays for my birthday and there was no leave available

Yabu

First come first served is the least fair and equitable way of allocating leave imo.

On my ward holidays run april to march. In January a planner goes up for people to request what they would like. It is then allocated accordingly. Plus we are only allowed 3 weeks of school holidays over the year to ensure all staff have the opportunity for time off during those periods.

Not unreasonable to reques it off, no. But also not U for the company to refuse to approve until a bit nearer the time and the whole staffing picture is clear.

When I worked we all had to submit holiday requests for Xmas and new year period together. Rota was then worked out to ensure there was a fair distribution of holidays (so not same people having the time off) and that there was a fair distribution of junior/senior staff. I always thought that was fair. Putting holiday in by stealth early is unfair IMO. Sorry.

I agree with ENorma.

I think first come first served is a bit unfair when it comes to Christmas. If you work in a team where one of you has to cover the Christmas period then it is only fair that you discuss it with everyone who will work what days so everyone gets a chance.

I see your point about living away from family as I have this too, but that still shouldn't mean you can get in there first and everyone else has to live with it.