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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Colleague taking holiday

96 replies

WorkWalk · 26/02/2020 16:54

Our holiday year end finishes at the end of March. I work as part of a two person team, which means that we can’t both be off at the same time as the other has to pick up the work.

My dear colleague who I actually like very much has left it so they haven’t used any of their annual leave. It now transpires that they will be taking three and a half out of the next four weeks off plus two weeks carried over to Easter in About pril.

We work in the public sector and the colleague has used flexi leave so far this year.

I’m very frustrated that it has been left to the last minute to use all the holiday and I am annoyed that for the next two months I can’t take holiday for most of the time and that I’m
going to be doing the work of two people for the next month.

Plus I’m moving house in the next few weeks and could do without this!

AIBU to think my colleague could/should have managed their holidays better? I hope I’m not being a non team player.

OP posts:
partofthepeanutgallery · 26/02/2020 17:49

I would complain. it's too long a period of time to expect you to cover her. And you have to use up your leave, too.

wibdib · 26/02/2020 18:02

Have you got leave that you had saved for your move? Or that you’re going to lose out on as a result of this? Had there been any inkling that this was her plan?

Dsis used to have a colleague that worked a 4 and a half day week - except she worked 5 days a week and accrued the time to take off for school holiday childcare of her dc. However it was set up like that in advance, there were busy times out of school holidays when she needed to be in more and holidays were quieter so it suited everyone. But there’s no way they would allow anyone to randomly build up leve and just announce they were off to suit themselves!

Jaxhog · 26/02/2020 18:05

While I don't think it unreasonable to have that much time off in one go, it is totally unreasonable to do this at such short notice.

If I were her manager, I would hit the roof. She's leaving both you and the organization in the lurch. Most organizations I've worked for would NOT allow this i.e. there have been rules about how much notice you need to give for taking more than 2 weeks holiday at one time. TBH, her manager should have seen this one coming if she hasn't taken her annual leave yet.

I would demand extra cover to put in place, although she's made that very difficult at such short notice. I also think she should not be allowed to join next years leave with this.

Di11y · 26/02/2020 18:17

we're only allowed to roll over 5 days, can't take more than 2 weeks without permission and can't just take all of popular weeks off without discussion.

we've had reminders since January to use our leave and not leave it til the end of March.

Original poster
WorkWalk · 26/02/2020 18:19

We haven’t had any reminders. I do think there’s a huge difference between covering a week or two at a time and covering almost four weeks. The workload implications are huge.

OP posts:
GoldenBlue · 26/02/2020 18:21

Poor management, leave should be taken relatively evenly through the year and the manager should monitor and prompt for leave to be booked if there appears to be some building up. In our organisation you aren't allow to take over 2 weeks off unless for exception circumstances and then only with director level approval. Usually only for weddings and once in a life time trips.

We only allow a maximum of 5 days carry over and then only if there has been exceptional circumstances preventing the staff member taking leave off which would include sickness or exceptional work projects. Some of this leave would be lost in this case due to poor planning.

LyingWitchInTheWardrobe · 26/02/2020 18:28

OP, do you also want to book holidays around bank holidays? If so, that should be managed so that you get a fair opportunity to do that too.

It sounds as if somebody else will have to be brought in to help you during your colleague's absence if you can't manage and that will make it very obvious that absence management is failing a bit.

WorraLiberty · 26/02/2020 18:28

This is down to no-one else but your line manager.

You need to pull her aside and set your problem out in no uncertain terms. Then ask her what (if anything) she's going to do to help you in your colleague's absence.

Itsonlywords · 26/02/2020 18:29

Another one for poor management, especially as she has been taking time off as Flexi instead of using A/L.

Sceptre86 · 26/02/2020 18:34

Your colleague will have covered for you as you have been off throughout the year. If her holidays got approved then I dont see the issue? Most people try to take leave around bank holidays to maximise time off, that is not a big deal. In my sector you have to apply to head office if you want leave for longer than two weeks and it is very rarely approved.

KickAssAngel · 26/02/2020 18:37

Well, if you're able to do her job as well as yours for almost a full month (even if it's a bit of a struggle) then it implies that you could do without her altogether.

I know it's not quite that simple, but it seems crazy that there are 2 of you being paid, when one of you can cover everything for that long. Stepping in for a week or two is normal. If it's for longer than that then either the job isn't being done properly (with long-term things being kicked down the road) or the company really doesn't need to employ both of you.

Original poster
WorkWalk · 26/02/2020 18:40

I definitely won’t be able to cope for almost 4 weeks without things slipping @KickAssAngel. That’s one of my concerns.

I’m going to see my manager tomorrow. Thanks.

OP posts:
BoredOfTheBoard · 26/02/2020 18:40

I'm not convinced your colleague is as lovely as you say. You say shes disorganised but shes been pretty sure about getting her leave round most of the BHs. No way should one person get to monopolise the BHs . And covering 2 peoples workload is hard. One week, fine, 2 weeks a struggle but just about doable. 4 weeks? Total pisstake

KittenVsBox · 26/02/2020 18:47

One of DHs colleagues used to do this. Except the leave year ended on 31Dec. So he always got Xmas off......
Exceedingly poor show by your manager.

I'd go and point out that you will need leave for the house move.

LeggyLinda · 26/02/2020 18:56

I agree with PP who say it’s line management fault that this has been allowed to happen.

However, if you want a point of view from the other side then I’m in a similar situation to your colleague. I have had holiday build up due to a variety of reasons - others getting priority due to school-age children, denied due to busy times, other people are away, etc.

It can be very difficult taking holiday. I have carried forward the maximum allowable for the last couple of years and above (with dispensation). I still can’t take it because of “reasons”.

I have resigned as a result.

Sorry for the waffle. But just don’t assume she’s doing it deliberately. Sometimes you just can’t get the holiday you’re owed and some companies will only see this and act at the end of the year. Unfortunately (for me) mine won’t but that’s another story and and why I’m leaving. I would advise the same for you, but you mention that your position is hard to come by.

In your case I would probably recommend a discussion with your colleague at the start of the year to plan this sort of thing out.

Disfordarkchocolate · 26/02/2020 19:05

Most places won't let you do this because it causes so many problems for other people. Not unless they plan a one-off special holiday or are getting married.

Darbs76 · 26/02/2020 19:06

Really annoying and we have been juggling things for weeks as staff take 3 weeks off before end of leave year

TheSmelliestHouse · 26/02/2020 19:12

ask your manager to arrange help. the manager should have seen this coming and planned appropriately

FaithInfinity · 26/02/2020 19:12

We have a rule in our department (also public sector) that anyone with leave left by Christmas is named on the wall, we were told to chose when to use it or boss would chose for us! We also cannot have 3 consecutive weeks unless specifically requested and discussed with the manager. I think this is fair.

TheGoogleMum · 26/02/2020 19:17

Manager should have encouraged her to take some leave sooner tbh. If course employees want to do what suits them. We also need special permission for more the 2 weeks of leave (also public sector)

Disfordarkchocolate · 26/02/2020 19:21

I think you need to get in early and book next year's holidays so you are off around the bank holidays. You will need the extra rest next year after this. Everywhere I have worked for the last 20 years plus has monitored holidays.

MintyMabel · 26/02/2020 19:22

She is working within the rules of what is allowed. If you can’t cope when she is off, speak to your manager to get cover.

It isn’t her fault, she doesn’t have to check with you if her holidays are ok, any more than you have to with her.

Pinkyyy · 26/02/2020 19:26

I would just explain that this is not possible for you. Your colleague is very selfish and your manager is poor.

BoredOfTheBoard · 26/02/2020 19:41

I would love to work on one of these workplaces wher you just speak to your manager to get cover. I need a new job Grin

ASundayWellSpent · 26/02/2020 19:42

In my previous job there were 3 of us in that department team and only one could be off at a time for a max of 10 days in a row... I would be feeling overwhelmed too

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