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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to be annoyed at this

28 replies

blackshadow · 12/03/2019 07:43

My hubby started a new job last September. He has put in his holiday forms for this year and thy have all been refused because they are in school holidays (we have 2 DC). He understood that he might not get them if others had already booked but has actually now been told that no-one is allowed to take any holidays in school holidays. This is not stipulated in his contract and if it had been he wouldn't have accepted the job! This now means that we cannot take any family holidays without taking DC's out of school which I don't really want to do DS is in the middle of his GCSE course. AIBU to be annoyed and is there anything we can do

OP posts:
NewIdeasToday · 12/03/2019 07:48

If annual leave can’t be taken during school holidays was that not clear from the type of job or organisation he works for?

brizzlemint · 12/03/2019 07:48

If it's not in his contract then there should be something you can do unless it was mentioned in any other correspondence.

icelollycraving · 12/03/2019 07:50

Not much you can do really. Did HR tell him that? Look for another job and tell them in exit meeting that is the reason (if it’s a dealbreaker for him).

BuffaloCauliflower · 12/03/2019 07:52

HR here - If it’s not in his contract or any offer letter they’ll struggle to uphold this. A very unfair rule for a start. He should meet with his manager and asked why he wasn’t told this rule, and that he wouldn’t have taken the job if he had been and he’s been mislead. As it’s not a contractual term he would like to discuss taking holiday time annual leave as that is his only option to do so.

MidniteScribbler · 12/03/2019 07:58

It really does depend on his job. If he works somewhere like an amusement park or hotel, or travel company, it would be pretty obvious that holiday may be refused during school holiday periods.

Original poster
blackshadow · 12/03/2019 08:00

He works in sales. Its me that works in the hospitality industry and I can always get school holidays off!

OP posts:
Lazypuppy · 12/03/2019 08:03

Employers can't stop you taking your entitlement but can state when annual leave can be taken depending on business needs

Lazypuppy · 12/03/2019 08:04

Sales i'd say is pretty obvious. Most sales jobs are busier during school holidays.

Fattymcfaterson · 12/03/2019 08:09

School holidays as a whole? Or just the summer?

Barrenfieldoffucks · 12/03/2019 08:18

I've never heard of sales jobs doing this

WoahThereMama · 12/03/2019 08:20

What Lazypuppy said. I don’t think it matters that annual leave during school holidays isn’t mentioned in his contract, the can refuse requests due to business needs.

Original poster
blackshadow · 12/03/2019 08:23

School holidays as a whole

OP posts:
FenellaMaxwell · 12/03/2019 08:25

Ask for their rational, and point out that it discriminates against parents.

WoahThereMama · 12/03/2019 08:36

How does it discriminate against patents Fenella if no one is allowed to take it during school holidays. It’s inconvenient for parents but not discrimination

FenellaMaxwell · 12/03/2019 21:32

@WoahThereMama well, obviously it does, because non-parents have no need for leave during the school holidays, have they? Hmm

Nicknacky · 12/03/2019 21:35

Fenella Non parents might want annual leave during school holidays too!

PlainSpeakingStraightTalking · 12/03/2019 21:38

'Parents' aren't a protected characteristic.

WoahThereMama · 12/03/2019 21:39

Don’t be ridiculous Fenella

FenellaMaxwell · 12/03/2019 21:41

@Nicknacky They might. (But if they did they’d be daft because everything is way more expensive and crowded) But they wouldn’t need annual leave during school holidays on a regular basis in the same way that many parents do to bridge their childcare gap. No annual leave during school holidays as a policy is clearly aimed primarily at those who might need to take leave during school holidays, ie. parents.

FenellaMaxwell · 12/03/2019 21:44

I didn’t say parenthood was a protected characteristic- it’s absolutely a choice. However a policy of no leave during school holidays primarily targets parents. I don’t mean discriminate in the legal sense. I mean it in the literal sense of ‘makes an unjust distinction’.

Nicknacky · 12/03/2019 21:46

Fenella They might have a partner that is a teacher. Or be going a family holiday with extended family members who have children.

I’m a parent and I don’t expect annual leave during the summer.

FenellaMaxwell · 12/03/2019 21:50

But both of those are less common occurances than people having children. If it’s a policy set at company level, it’s not set with the thought that one employee might date a teacher - it’s set with a wider group in mind.

FenellaMaxwell · 12/03/2019 21:51

I’m not a parent of school aged children, so I have no need for leave during school holidays, but I work with a lot of women who wouldn’t be able to make childcare arrangements without it.

mummumumumumumum · 12/03/2019 21:57

How do they police that? My children's schools all have different holidays

Gentlemanwiththistledownhair · 12/03/2019 22:00

Fanella Not everyone takes annual leave to go on holiday... Hmm

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