To refuse to provide holiday cover for Monday at this late notice

[Arnie123]

I run a contractors firm and one thing we do is provide holiday cover for companies. I normally work the shift myself and it is in our contracts that we require 1 months notice. One of my customers a retailer does not really like the 1 months notice as he lets his staff book holidays with 2 or 3 weeks notice. I said this was alright. Anyway I have gone to the company today and seen a note saying ask arnie123 to provide cover on Monday 26th when I see her on Thursday. This would be 4 days notice and I have already planned a day out with husband and son on Monday. I need to turn this one down.

Why not negotiate triple time / days of in lieu? Since you're in a strong position here, use it to your advantage.

I'd say turn it down. Don't say you have personal plans, just tell him that you've been booked weeks in advance (hence why you need to be booked early, NOT lady minute).

Maybe this will help drive that point home a bit.

Brilliant advice! Have just told them I am not doing it but they are now complaining as they have already granted the other workers annual leave request

Their workers are their problem though, and they've had ample opportunity to insist that they give 6 weeks notice to arrange cover too. It might be worth waiting until this particular issue has died down, and then raising the contracted 1 months notice again, pointing out that it's so you don't get double booked.

It might be worth trying to negotiate future cover with 1 month in advance as standard, but where possible, you will provide emergency cover at shorter notice, charged at X rate.

I have stood in at the last minute before and I think this has led them to thinking I have the word MUG tattooed on my forehead