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?

[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.

[BikeRunSki]

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

[JustHereForThePooStoriesFella]

Sometimes I think companies can’t win.

[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.

[sonjadog]

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

[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.

[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?

[MitziK]

Drinking all afternoon?

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

[Fairenuff]

Is Maundy Thursday a bank holiday where you are OP?

[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.

[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?!

[Springwalk]

Bad luck - you can go to the next one.

[Meandmetoo]

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

[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?

[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.)