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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Work cancelling annual leave

83 replies

y0rkier0se · 14/10/2019 21:17

DP works for the Civil Service. He has a week of work booked off over Christmas, and we’ve booked and paid for a cottage for that week. He’s apparently been told today that if Brexit goes ahead on 31st October, all annual leave over Christmas will be cancelled. Does anyone know where we stand on this? Can’t afford to lose £900 on the cottage and don’t see why we should! It’s been booked for nearly a year. Don’t even think travel insurance would cover this Sad

OP posts:
Doobigetta · 14/10/2019 22:55

Civil Service used to talk about "annual leave is a privilege not a right" and "needs of the office" but that changed when UK had to come in line with the EU.

And the leave will be cancelled if we crash out of the EU...

CakeAndGin · 14/10/2019 23:07

I don’t work for the civil service but I’ve had notice that my leave over the Christmas and New Year period may also be cancelled due to Brexit or I may be required to do stand-by (I am not usually stand-by staff and not paid as such). It sucks. I’ve sulked about it. I’ve asked management for more clarification but they can’t give any. So your DP is right, it will be what it will be. You aren’t the only one in this position and it’s just another unforeseen consequence of Brexit. But at least I’ll still have a job.

Pixxie7 · 14/10/2019 23:08

Have you thought of contacting the holiday company and explained the situation. Given the time of year it may be possible to change the date of your holiday. Not ideal but better than loosing all that money.

HelenaDove · 14/10/2019 23:11

So people will be of a mindset not to book holidays in case annual leave gets cancelled.

Thomas Cook wont be the last holiday co. to go bust.

Beveren · 14/10/2019 23:15

I know it's not great, but if you can't get a refund can the rest of the family go without him?

OneHanded · 14/10/2019 23:20

Hi I work for a major insurance company in travel insurance claims. Of course check your policy but we underwrite a lot of the major policies for banks, companies, etc and only cover leave withdrawal for military and emergency service workers.

m0therofdragons · 14/10/2019 23:20

@readingnc our local district council runs it from the day the employee starts because the IT person setting up the system misunderstood the hr director and it'll cost too much to change it! Until 2 years ago different depts had diff annual leave allowances depending on the manager as hr was outsourced. Civil service doesn't mean consistency!

m0therofdragons · 14/10/2019 23:23

I'm nhs management and can't book Christmas until we figure this shit show out. Fingers crossed I can have Christmas Day!

stargazer2030 · 14/10/2019 23:31

Is he in a union? Can they help him with this at all?

BarbaraofSeville · 15/10/2019 05:29

Civil service doesn't mean consistency

It certainly doesn't. Our leave year runs April to March, it used to be calendar year, but it changed when we merged with another organisation. I've never heard of it being tied to someone's birthday or the anniversary of joining.

We also haven't been told of any 'cancellation of leave if Brexit causes a shitshow' policy although I suppose it would be possible.

I have no idea what would happen with reimbursement of booked holidays - OP can you change the booking to another time of year or next Christmas I'm sure they'll let you do it for a small fee and they'll easily be able to relet the property if they have a good 3 months notice.

Tippety · 15/10/2019 05:43

With Brexit looming though did he not consider this might be a possibility? I'd be very surprised if he didn't. It sucks though.

CasperGutman · 15/10/2019 05:52

At least some travel insurance policies will cover this. Mine specifically states it covers cancellation of a trip for employees of Government Departments who have their authorised annual leave cancelled. For anyone looking to buy a policy in future who could be in this position, it would be well worth checking the policy wording before buying.

Good luck getting this sorted, OP! Hopefully Brexit will be delayed and/or cancelled....

Spanglyprincess1 · 15/10/2019 05:53

Usual pre approved leave is honoured if approved on the it system. If it was just an email yeah that's fine then no it won't be honoured.
It's in the civil service leave policy esp for front line staff.

BestIsWest · 15/10/2019 05:55

DH Leave year begins on his birthday, mine is anniversary of joining. Both CS though different depts.

OverthinkingThis · 15/10/2019 06:05

Civil service leave is usually birthday to birthday.

Not true at all. DP and I are both CS - mine is April to March and his is based on month of start date.

OP - is your DH in a union? They could advise. Or agree with PP about asking ACAS.

We have a policy that covers recall from annual leave - costs have to be reimbursed. But I don't know how far in advance that applies in terms of when they cancel leave.

JammieCodger · 15/10/2019 06:55

I’m CS and have worked in 5 different departments with 5 different leave patterns. The birthday/date of joining ones work best; those that have everyone working to the same date have everyone trying to use up their excess at the same time.

MrsGrindah · 15/10/2019 07:05

People saying claim it from the employer...that civil service isn’t like that! OP your husband will have access to reams of HR guidance..he just needs to check it out ASAP but be prepared to accept that the money is gone

Original poster
y0rkier0se · 15/10/2019 07:20

People saying “Did he not see this coming?”, this was booked nearly a year ago, when we were supposed to be leaving in March so didn’t foresee it being an issue at the time of booking. He’s a union rep but apparently this is drafted into Brexit legislature so overrides usual contract. It is possible to go without him I suppose, I’m a teacher so don’t think my holidays will be cancelled Grin I’ll update when we find out more

OP posts:
LakieLady · 15/10/2019 07:46

DP works for a police force in the SE. Their area includes a big chink of coast and some channel ports.

Police officers who have leave already booked are still allowed to take it, but no new leave for the period 1/10/19 - 31/12/19 has been allowed to be booked for some time now. There's not yet been any suggestion that pre-booked leave could be cancelled.

It seems a bit harsh, especially if your DP isn't in a front line role.

Timeywimey10 · 15/10/2019 07:53

Why would HMRC staff be required for Brexit? I understand the police, customs, border staff etc.

And what work would be being done between Christmas and New Year anyway?

JammieCodger · 15/10/2019 07:54

In a lot of departments large work streams have been dropped and all the people working on them redeployed to try to mitigate the effects of a no deal. I’m fairly safe due to the nature of my current work, but I’ve had meetings cancelled at the last minut

JammieCodger · 15/10/2019 07:56

Gah. Fat fingers! ...at the last minute when the people I’ve been supposed to be meeting have been whisked away to work on They’ll be the ones having to cancel their leave.

JammieCodger · 15/10/2019 08:01

It’s every department; Health, Education...everyone not working on an absolute core workstrand is in danger of getting hived off to work on brexit. And what do you think the C stands for in HMRC?

doublebarrellednurse · 15/10/2019 08:05

I'm nhs management and can't book Christmas until we figure this shit show out. Fingers crossed I can have Christmas Day!

Nursing mgt here and same. Not that I've ever really had Christmas off!

absolutelyknackeredcow · 15/10/2019 08:18

HMRC staff are utterly critical for Brexit. The whole way we trade will change and instead of good such as food etc through Europe with no paperwork,all of a sudden multiple papers will be needed not just from goods coming from Europe but from those countries such as China etc where currently our trading relations are based on European membership