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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

No Annual Leave during school holidays

329 replies

Dodoluded · 30/09/2019 11:49

I’ve just been told that because I don’t have a child I can’t take annual leave during school holidays as my line manager needs to take that time off for child care arrangements and one of us need to manage the team (I do this when she is not there).

Basically she’s taking a week off either side of Christmas and has worked one day per week over the summer holiday and taken the rest as unpaid leave.

There are already four months in the year when I am not allowed to take any annual leave due to my workload.

AIBU to not agree to the holidays leave thing? None of this was explained at interview or before my probationary period finished.

They have just refused a leave request for next year as it overlaps with school holidays by four days although she currently has no leave booked for this period.

OP posts:
ColaFreezePop · 30/09/2019 12:52

Personally I would find another job and leave them in the shit.

Jaxhog · 30/09/2019 12:54

Unless it states this restriction in your contract, then this would be a breach of that contract.

I'm all for a bit of flexibility to help parents out, but this is draconian and quite unfair. What did your HR say?

CloudsCanLookLikeSheep · 30/09/2019 12:54

She can theoretically dictate it to you as your line manager but she's doing herself no favours in the long term as she will scupper the working relationship with you and lose any goodwill.

When will bosses realise that you can only get so far by being an arse and demanding things, the best leaders realise that the way to get work done through other people is to get them on side and earn not demand their respect.

PinkiOcelot · 30/09/2019 13:01

I would be looking for another job OP. That is disgusting. It really annoys me when I hear this. Just because someone has kids, they should not be given preferential treatment. I say that as having 2 myself.

Original poster
Dodoluded · 30/09/2019 13:04

Ok HR have said they’ve checked and it’s a long standing agreement with her. They said they will speak to her and get back to me.

I haven’t mentioned the flexi-time or WFH days yet as I don’t want to cause too much of a scene.

Is just bloody frustrating that this wasn’t explained at interview and is only coming out now.

OP posts:
LoveGrowsWhere · 30/09/2019 13:05

Where it all falls down is your manager is saying she is allowed unpaid leave (28 days from what OP said) over and above annual leave before you are allowed to book routine annual leave. That is unfair.

eggsandwich · 30/09/2019 13:07

So what happens if you suddenly fall pregnant and go back to work after maternity leave, do you get the same entitlement of having school holidays off as a priority because you have a child ?

Interesting to find out the answer.

bobsyourauntie · 30/09/2019 13:07

I would ring ACAS about this and get advice from them as to whether or not this is legal.

BuildBuildings · 30/09/2019 13:10

How long have you been in the role op? I just can't see this working long term.

whatsthecomingoverthehill · 30/09/2019 13:12

It's a ridiculous requirement. And being told you can't take leave because you don't have a child is discirminating between employees.

I would be asking questions such as what would happen if you were to have a baby. Would you then suddenly be allowed to have leave then?

Original poster
Dodoluded · 30/09/2019 13:14

Since January. I think they are trying to get rid of me for other reasons though they are struggling because the more senior level want to promote me and they would be on serious grounds for discrimination if they did and they know this.

OP posts:
MadeForThis · 30/09/2019 13:15

What would happen if you had a child and wanted holidays off???
It's ridiculous that she can't compromise.

Hope HR have some sense

FizzyGreenWater · 30/09/2019 13:17

Well it's not a long standing agreement with you and specifically wasn't agreed in your contract, so they have a problem. :)

woodchuck99 · 30/09/2019 13:18

We have a ban during our two busiest times, for example. Anyone who asks for annual leave then will be told no.

Yes, but everyone is being treated the same so that would be okay. While, perhaps not discriminatory in law, letting some people have annual leave whenever they request it but not others for no good reason (even though it is not in the contract) seems like the kind of thing that could get a company into trouble.

Original poster
Dodoluded · 30/09/2019 13:18

The company are really flexible for leave for everyone else. No other parent takes leave for every single school holiday though.

OP posts:
Aragog · 30/09/2019 13:19

Work are being unreasonable and I would definitely want to ask HR if this is correct and why the restrictions weren't explained beforehand. I can't see how this can be okay.

What if your partner worked in a school?
Or you want to go away with family with children?

imnotinthemood · 30/09/2019 13:23

Are you actually sure that you can't take time off during school holidays or is it that you have requested time off and she has said no because she needs it ?
School holidays are 12 weeks a year most employees have a average 6 weeks annual leave so you do the math .
It should be first come first served for annual leave if she booked it after you then yanbu she needs to be organised .
I've had this in the past I've booked time off in advance during holidays and had people moaning about it like I'm given preferential treatment no love I'm just organised. In the next breath they complain that it's too expensive to go away during school holidays Hmm

DarlingNikita · 30/09/2019 13:25

maybe even invent children that you must care for due to their parents being in hospital /prison /institution facility - it happens.
Don't be daft. The OP doesn't need to make things up. In any case, if she did and it came out further down the line she'd be in serious hot water, for no good reason.

It’s a long standing agreement with her' What a load of rubbish. a) it may not be entirely legal and b) it should certainly have been made clear in the recruitment process.

With this and your updates in mind, OP (they're trying to get rid of you?!), I'd have a chat with ACAS now.

BumbleBeee69 · 30/09/2019 13:26

Good on you for not letting this go OP, fight it. Flowers

CadburysTastesVileNow · 30/09/2019 13:29

It's batshit.

Original poster
Dodoluded · 30/09/2019 13:29

Yes, I’m calling Acas for sure. I’ve just double checked my contract and it is not stipulated anywhere. They did tell me a couple of weeks ago they were going to be “modernising” my contract but I think they are doing this for everyone as my PA was also told the same thing.

The atmosphere in our office is now dreadful.

OP posts:
croprotationinthe13thcentury · 30/09/2019 13:30

I’d just go off sick on the days you want off. And start looking for another job.

DingDongDenny · 30/09/2019 13:32

As a side point are you being recompensed for Acting Up when she is on holiday? I think covering occassionaly is fine, but in your case because of all the unpaid leave she is taking, you are working at a senior level for a good proportion of the time.

lyralalala · 30/09/2019 13:32

I’d get job hunting if I were you.

Either HR will back you, you’ll get your holidays and she’ll be a nightmare to work with, or they’ll stick with this

Either way it’ll be shit.

Although if the senior management like you and want to promote you I’d be tempted to let one of them know you are job hunting and why.

IfIShouldFallFromGraceWithGod · 30/09/2019 13:33

I do think you are being treated unfairly OP
It's not correct what pp are saying that you should get the same if you have a child. My work plage policy is to look at what the department can manage at that time. So a person may get reduced hours, flexi time, term time, whatever but it doesn't set a precedent for the next person
It could be that a team can only manage one person working term time or P/T