Work jolly

[FourthClass]

I have booked annual leave next week, taking 4 days of my entitlement.

I learnt today that next Thursday (bank holiday before Good Friday), the boss has paid for everyone to have a 'fun day'. No work will be done, everyone is going to a spa, then afternoon tea and drinking all afternoon, as an annual thank you to staff.

AIBU to feel short changed, and that it's unfair for me to lose a holiday day, while everyone else has a jolly as a paid work day? I can't cancel the holiday now, but I'm not sure whether to bring this up and argue my case for no holiday to be taken off me for this day, or if I'm petty?

[CantYouSleepLittleBear]

Yeah it's team building. You can only get your leave cancelled if you actually attend the event. (Unless they've said that the "fun day" is optional and that people can alternatively have a free day off - in which case ask for your leave back - but not otherwise.)

[paxillin]

If you are keen to go on the jolly, ask to un-book your holiday and go on the jolly.

I think you are asking to get the day off, but not go on the work jolly? I don't think that would be fair, the argument of those "fun" days tends to be team-building, doesn't it?

[Meandmetoo]

Err.....yea you can ask I suppose. Do you have an idea of how they might react?

[Springwalk]

Bad luck - you can go to the next one.

[adaline]

It's not a holiday though, is it?

It's a work day.

And do you really want to go to a spa with your colleagues and see them all sweaty and half naked?!

[BarbaraofSevillle]

What sort of employer books something like that at a week's notice or at all ?

Unless you have plans outside work for next Thursday, can you cancel your leave and go to the team building day? That's what I would do, or even do it if I was on leave.

We have spa and afternoon tea days at my work, but it all comes out of our own time and our own money as its a social thing amongst work colleagues who have become friends with each other.

[Fairenuff]

Is Maundy Thursday a bank holiday where you are OP?

[MitziK]

Drinking all afternoon?

Fuck that, I'd rather take a day's unpaid than go through such horrors.

[VioletCharlotte]

Ask if you can cancel your days annual leave and go along? Otherwise, it's just bad luck really. It's a jolly, but still a work jolly. I'm sure lots of people would much prefer to have a day off on full pay, but that's not on offer?

[sonjadog]

Or reading your question again, do you think that you should still have the day off but it not count as a holiday as they are at a work event that day? In that case, YABU. The event I am guessing is not optional for staff? In which case, it can't be optional for you to go to it either.

[sonjadog]

If you want to go, then ask if you can retract that day's holiday and go on the work jolly.

[Biancadelrioisback]

My place give you your birthday off work. This year my birthday falls on a Sunday. I don't get an extra days leave as a result. Same thing really.

[JustHereForThePooStoriesFella]

Sometimes I think companies can’t win.

[BikeRunSki]

Where is the Thursday before a Good Friday a bank holiday, and why is this work jolly happening on a bank holiday anyway?

[Neverender]

Example being we always close at lunch time on Xmas eve so HR confirmed that if you already had this booked it would be a half day, not a full day holiday. It's just sensible/reasonable/kind.

[Giddyuppp]

If you want to go, retract your annual leave for that day. I'm sure most companies would allow that given the purpose is usually team building and, anyway, you can usually change annual leave (Well you've been able to in every company I've workeď for).

[StarTheGirl]

Do you really want to see all your colleagues in fluffy bathrobes?....or Dave from accounts having a treatment?....

it’s a fair point, but it probably depends on your colleagues! Obviously the op’s would be fine in fluffy bathrobes, or she wouldn’t be on here! It would be “AIBU to be so relieved I don’t have to endure the horror of seeing Barry from IT having a head massage” 😂.

[Neverender]

I'd ask for the day back! They're silly not to mention what happens if you've already got it booked off.

[KnitterOfSocks]

I would book annual leave to avoid that particular hell

[Nnnnnineteen]

It is a work day. It is a day where your colleagues will be doing team building activities. Join them or don't, but you are not being short changed!

[MrsMoastyToasty]

Do you really want to see all your colleagues in fluffy bathrobes?....or Dave from accounts having a treatment?....

[InspectorClouseauMNdivision]

Ffs. Misread the post🙄 Lucky I don't have to refund you now....

It's still work. They have to attend. Unless you attend, you should still take annual leave.

[AmIRightOrAMeringue]

If you want a day on the work jolly just ask to cancel your holiday?

[SuperSara]

YABU.

Unless they’ve told other staff they have the choice of joining the spa day or just taking the day off.

Which they definitely won’t have done.

[InspectorClouseauMNdivision]

"Like, I know I wanted off from work so I can do my stuff, but since you all are not working and having fun for free my stuff can wait"

I don't think that would go down well. Bad luck, that's all, you might have to get over it.