To feel this was presumptuous?

[HippyHappygal]

In the process of employing a new member of staff and automatically, they say they can't work 23rd and 30th December almost as though they are calling the shots and automatically got the job.

Not presumptuous at all.
Up front and honest.

Would you rather they lied, got their feet under the table, and then messed up the rota by refusing to work two days?

They're just overthinking and giving you some information they may feel is important to you.

No that’s fairly standard if as you say it was disclosed during the process.

They can’t work those dates and its now up to the employer to make a decision as to whether they want to continue to offer on that basis.

I’m always surprised at the number of people who don’t understand the interview and negotiation period are a two way street with both parties setting out their stall and then deciding whether the offer suits.

Whenever I have applied for a job there is normally a bit on the form to tell the employer if you have any prearranged engagements or holidays in the next few months, so I'd say totally normal and honest.

Totally standard to state any pre booked holidays at an interview.

I’ve always been asked in interviews whether I have any holidays booked. And if I wasn’t asked, but did have something arranged, I would say so, so that I didn’t have to say it later on and risk not being able to have it off.

They are merely letting you know that they have commitments those days. I'd rather they were honest and upfront than pulling sickies those days. I may feel differently if it was Christmas Eve/day/NYE/NYD and it was a job that required working these holidays.
I remember being asked before I started my job if I had any holidays booked etc. They would be honoured.

Haha they are going to be fun to manage! Surely they were asked at interview if they had any holidays booked? What reason did they give for not being able to work the 23rd and 30th?

Well, it’s not as if there is a shortage of jobs and lots of unemployment at the moment. Meanwhile back in the real world....

What’s wrong with that?
It’s standard where I work to ask about existing holiday commitments at interview.

As PP said, the offer stage is 2-way negotiation for both parties.

I think they’ve done the right thing by telling you. If you offered them the job, and then said it was imperative that they work the 23rd and the 3rd of December, you wouldn’t be too happy if they turned around at that point and said they couldn’t, would you. I don’t tickets then assuming they will be given at the job. I remember many years ago during an interview I had, they wanted somebody to start at the beginning of the month. I would be abroad until the second week of the month, so I told them this. They were fine with it, and I was offered the job.

@EL8888 why is it difficult to manage someone who open open dates they already have a commitment, during the recruitment phase? I’d say they’re much easier to manage than the one who’d say anything at interview then call in sick, or be difficult about refuses holiday.

Are you new to recruiting staff, OP?

Nope. Not presumptuous for the reasons everyone has already said.

And absolutely agree that the interview process is as much for the candidate to assess if they want to work for the company as much as whether the candidate is suitable from the employers point of view.

*30th

Normal, so yabu and should honour those days.

It may have taken them.a lot to pluck up the courage to say it, I know I would worry what you thought, but it would relieve any anxiety I had if I was desperate to have those 2 days as A/L.

It’s pretty normal to state any pre-booked holiday at an interview

I always ask if I’m interviewing someone, and I’ve always been asked if I’m being interviewed

I don’t know what you mean by “in the process of” or that they “automatically” told you they could not work certain days.

But if you mean you are in the interview stage, then yes it is perfectly normal to inform a prospective employer fingered are some days that cannot be worked. Are you very new to the workforce?

Not presumptuous at all. Very forward thinking and sensible. Maybe for them, they really need those days off so couldn't take the job if offered if that wasn't acceptable to the company. Now it's up to you to decide if you want them enough to accommodate.

You are being slightly presumptuous to assume they will want the job after they have been interviewed. As a previous poster mentioned, contrary to popular belief the interview goes both ways.

It is usual when you are looking for a job to say up front if you are not available for any specific dates (a holiday previously booked, for instance) rather than mention it much later. It puts things straight. Nothing presumptuous about it at all. The job could have gone to someone else if it was massively inconvenient.

Not at all. It shows they are organised and plan ahead that's all. I don't see the issue.

Every interview I've ever had had asked me if I have any holidays booked. I guarantee this person has had the same experience and expected you to ask so they offered the information. Tbh- you should have asked if you were doing your job properly.

Not at all. It’s a busy time of year and better they are upfront.

@EL8888

Haha they are going to be fun to manage! Surely they were asked at interview if they had any holidays booked? What reason did they give for not being able to work the 23rd and 30th?

Well, it’s not as if there is a shortage of jobs and lots of unemployment at the moment. Meanwhile back in the real world....

You’re clearly not in the real world at all:

@EL8888

Haha they are going to be fun to manage! Surely they were asked at interview if they had any holidays booked? What reason did they give for not being able to work the 23rd and 30th?

Well, it’s not as if there is a shortage of jobs and lots of unemployment at the moment. Meanwhile back in the real world....

Why would they give a reason?

Shortage of jobs depends on what you do.