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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think my holiday time starts when the clock says

60 replies

FairfaxAikman · 10/05/2019 09:06

And not when my manager says.

I reduced my hours after DS was born and as a result my annual holiday allocation, as calculated by HR, includes one half day, finishing at 12.30 as I start at 8.

When I took the half day in last year’s allowance back in February (we work April to April) the boss above my immediate line manager said he hoped it “wouldn’t be a habit” and I explained the calculation meant it would happen once a year. As it was I didn’t get away until 2 hours after I was supposed to that day due to an urgent project landing on our desks, nor did I get the time back.

DS had his vaccinations yesterday afternoon so I booked the half day from this year’s allowance so I could take him. Immediate line manager knew and approved it.

After I left I got a shitty email from the boss above, again stating he hoped it wouldn’t be a habit and that I had left work unfinished. (I hadn’t, the one joint daily project was short as he had made edit. While I had worked on it exclusively that day it is usually a team effort and my colleague agreed to finish it).

I replied to say why I had the holiday and why I had to leave on time but AIBU to think I shouldn’t have to do the latter. If I’ve booked holiday I am on holiday when the clock says, not when he says.

OP posts:
StealthPolarBear · 10/05/2019 09:07

It sounds like he doesn't understand the concept of annual leave.

StealthPolarBear · 10/05/2019 09:08

Maybe tell him your annual leave and ask him how he wants you to book that half day. But this is madness. Does he have trouble in general with understanding basic concepts

LagunaBubbles · 10/05/2019 09:13

Do you have an HR dept, get them to write to him.

CuriousaboutSamphire · 10/05/2019 09:15

And bear in mind you took holiday to take your child to a doctor... is he discriminating due to your sex, being a mother?

Not saying he is, but it could be useful if he keeps pushing, refusing to see sense.

Brefugee · 10/05/2019 09:15

get HR to explain it to him. If not they can give you an extra half day, free, gratis and for nothing.

CuriousaboutSamphire · 10/05/2019 09:15

Laguna!!!!! She said as calculated by HR - second line of the OP!

InMyBloodstainedSundaysBest · 10/05/2019 09:16

Tell him they can't round down annual leave so he either makes his peace with a half day, or you take a whole day instead. Idiot.

EatsFartsAndLeaves · 10/05/2019 09:18

Explain again, slowly and clearly, by email. Copy in HR and add "HR can you confirm that I have this correct?". At least you have a very specific paper trail ready for next time then, I guess it won't come up again now until after next March.

Might be worth sending a very similar email next year "just checking" with HR and copying to idiot manager before you take the next half day. Is he always this thick?

Ivestoppedreadingthenews · 10/05/2019 09:18

What an idiot. That would wind me up too. Go back hard. We’re too polite sometimes as women.

ImNotHappyaboutitPauline · 10/05/2019 09:22

Surely he's had the leave entitlement explained to him last year when he first queried it. It's weird that he would take issue with a person using their leave, is it the case that your company doesn't normally allow AL to be taken in half days? It doesn't make sense to me at all Confused I'd wonder is his issue with you personally.

DSHathawayGivesMeFannyGallops · 10/05/2019 09:23

I worked with an annual leave cheeky fucker and you most definitely are not one! You're entitled to the time off, that is your business not his and you took it to cover an appointment- perfectly reasonable, and could happen to anyone. Also leave can be turned down- yours wasn't so it clearly isn't a problem for the company.

I'd forward his email to HR and innocently ask if there's a problem. I view that sort of thing as low level bullying.

Tawdrylocalbrouhaha · 10/05/2019 09:25

What you need here is very polite way of asking him if he is stupid. I've never been very good at that, but hopefully someone more tactful can advise you.

DantesInferno · 10/05/2019 09:25

And bear in mind you took holiday to take your child to a doctor... is he discriminating due to your sex, being a mother?

erm, a father can take a dc to the drs,

StuckInsideAnEcho · 10/05/2019 09:27

Sounds like low level bullying to me too. What a prick.

Missingstreetlife · 10/05/2019 09:33

Loads of ppl, esp shift and p/t workers have al in hours. So could take 2 hours lunch or go home an hour early... boss is idiot.
Isn't child's healthcare something you could do on work time anyway, or (devils advocate) on your day off?
Are you working 9hours a day, no lunchbreak?

ImNotHappyaboutitPauline · 10/05/2019 09:34

Yes they certainly can Dante but it's far more often mothers who juggle those things and there are employers who look negatively on working mums because of their need to use their leave this way.

StealthPolarBear · 10/05/2019 09:36

How could you do child's healthcare in work time

musicmaiden · 10/05/2019 09:38

I would definitely take this to HR as they should be able to intervene to stop this from happening.

TheMobileSiteMadeMeSignup · 10/05/2019 09:39

missing that's a bit of an assumption that OP works close by to where her child is and would be able to fit it in during her lunch break. If I have an appointment at home I take a half day as I work an hour commute each way, there's no way I'd get home and back in my lunch break.

Also, assumption about appointment availability.

OP, the boss sounds like a dick. Email him back once copying in HR. If he questions it again tell him that it's been explained twice already and then look at raising a grievance against him.

CuriousaboutSamphire · 10/05/2019 09:40

erm, a father can take a dc to the drs, Yes, of course they can.

But, as most posters here are women and women tend to do most of the family chores I said 'mother'

If OP is male they can quite easily say so and that can be amended to 'father'. The point still stands!

CuriousaboutSamphire · 10/05/2019 09:41

Oh, and I did pose it as a question...

SlothMama · 10/05/2019 09:41

He's being a dick, I'd reply pointing out that you were taking your allocated annual leave which you are entitled to use. I'd also copy in HR, he can direct any of his confusions towards them.

thenightsky · 10/05/2019 09:42

I'd be tempted to take the half day as a morning instead of an afternoon. That way there'll be no having to deal with stuff last minute making you late leaving.

CoraPirbright · 10/05/2019 09:44

I would def be talking to HR about this - I agree, it sounds/feels like low level bullying. Is he usually hard of thinking?

Perhaps email HR, copying him in and say “ is again querying my AL. Please can you just clarify my hours just so I can be absolutely sure I am getting this all correct. I would hate to be taking incorrect leave. Many thanks”

Makes it seem like you are double checking when, in fact, you are spiking his guns and alerting HR to the fact that he is being a twat.

DennisSkinnersMolotov · 10/05/2019 09:44

Once, I'd be inclined to pass it off as him being a dick. Twice and I'd do as @EatsFartsAndLeaves suggests. You need to nip this in the bud.

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