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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

Boss tried to cancel my holiday because colleague has to isolate

113 replies

Bluebeth · 17/07/2021 11:48

Name changed because some of my workmates are here.

One of them is in France, and has another week of her holiday to go. She says she won’t come home early and will be returning next weekend. This means she has to isolate for two weeks.

My holiday is booked when she is supposed to be back at work, and my boss said I can’t take it. A call to the union rep has sorted that out, but I am still being bullied over it. Another call to the union will made on Monday.

Anyone else getting this kind of shit?

OP posts:

Overthebow · 17/07/2021 14:21

@luckylavender

It's hardly the colleagues fault either though is it?

Yes it is. At the moment travel changes are happening regularly and if going away this needs to be taken into account. Also they are refusing to come back before the need to isolate kicks in.

Overthebow · 17/07/2021 14:22

@pinkcircustop

Colleague is refusing to come back early and will then have to isolate for 2 weeks.

@CliftonGreenYork Why should she come back early from her holiday?

Because they have an obligation to be in work.

Watermelon221 · 17/07/2021 14:23

A few years ago I booked to go camping with friends for a week (uk). I worked on the wards (nhs) at the time. I requested the week off (probably should have done it before booking) and got told I couldn’t have the Friday because a colleague had already booked it off. (Could only have from sat - thurs).

I cut short the holiday to go back to work on the Friday only to find that the colleague who was off on the Friday had been off sick all week and they’d had to manage without them. One more day would have made. I difference at all! Was very frustrating!

Guavaf1sh · 17/07/2021 14:24

The colleague should be blamed not OP! It’s clearly
her fault 100%

StealthPolarBear · 17/07/2021 14:28

Yes I always find that a bit odd. Surely there aren't many jobs where people could come in with no handover and do a good enough job.
Also, it may be costly and inconvenient for the colleague to come back. It may be costly and inconveniet for op to change her plans.

Blossomtoes · 17/07/2021 14:28

It’s the government’s fault for changing the rules more often than its underpants. No way would I be cutting my holiday short.

Watermelon221 · 17/07/2021 14:32

@Blossomtoes

It’s the government’s fault for changing the rules more often than its underpants. No way would I be cutting my holiday short.

They did warn it was always a possibility though didn’t they?

I wouldn’t be able to quarantine with work so booking abroad was never on the cards for us this year even though I’d have loved to go.

It really surprises me how many people act shocked when the rules change!!

PinkSparklyPussyCat · 17/07/2021 14:44

I think it's disgusting that companies can cancel leave with such short notice. I'd be handing in my notice if they tried that!

topcat2014 · 17/07/2021 14:46

So, what happens if your holiday is 'cancelled' with the appropriate notice.

Are you just supposed to suck up the loss?

(not necessarily a COVID question)

ineedaholidaynow · 17/07/2021 14:55

Are you going abroad @Bluebeth

Overthebow · 17/07/2021 14:56

@topcat2014

So, what happens if your holiday is 'cancelled' with the appropriate notice.

Are you just supposed to suck up the loss?

(not necessarily a COVID question)

Most decent companies would reimburse reasonable costs, but they don’t have to.

Twoforthree · 17/07/2021 14:59

Are you actually going on holiday? Not that it makes any difference but just interested to know.

SofiaMichelle · 17/07/2021 15:15

@Blossomtoes

It’s the government’s fault for changing the rules more often than its underpants. No way would I be cutting my holiday short.

I hate Johnson and co', but they were roundly slated, on here and everywhere else, for not changing the rules fast enough when the Delta variant emerged in India.

The Beta variant (thought to be more vaccine resistant) is taking hold in France so this time they are acting on it.

If they didn't change the rules MN would be full of people apoplectic about that.

warmfluffytowels · 17/07/2021 15:18

@PinkSparklyPussyCat

I think it's disgusting that companies can cancel leave with such short notice. I'd be handing in my notice if they tried that!

That's always been the case, even going back before COVID.

moanymyrtle · 17/07/2021 15:27

Colleague (or work) can pay for a test to release on day 5 after she returns.

paddlingon · 17/07/2021 15:29

I don't understand what work people are doing that people can be drafted in to do at no notice for two weeks.
Very few jobs are going to find this realistic.

BungleandGeorge · 17/07/2021 15:34

Are you two the only two who can cover your job role? Usually it would be a case of asking for volunteers. The majority of companies don’t enforce holiday cancellations because they know the bad will caused and want loyal and committed employees. The reality is that many people would go off sick or on emergency leave for childcare. There aren’t many jobs where it’s in the contract and a routine thing.
I agree colleague should have allowed for an isolation period post holiday. They’re not entitled to full pay for the isolation period so it may be possible to over overtime/ get a temp in to cover

Taliskerskye · 17/07/2021 15:34

Companies are simply going to have to get used to this. Not from holidays as much but from test and trace. Who has no contingencies for 1 person being off. It would take 3 people all being off at the same time at my place for anything vaguely worrying to start happening. And I work in a tiny company.

AffableApple · 17/07/2021 15:35

Colleague should come back if agency staff isn't an option. I can't work from home in my job - therefore I've not booked a holiday abroad. It sucks, but it was always a possibility that thi colleague's holiday would have to be cut short. Either way the OP certainly isn't obliged to give up their leave with such short notice.

skodadoda · 17/07/2021 15:35

@BernadetteRostankowskiWolowitz

Boss can tell colleague they need to take unpaid leave and use the savings by getting Agency in

Agree with this. Boss should not be bullying OP

pinkcircustop · 17/07/2021 15:36

Dh wanted to go to France fo visit family, predominantly his elderly father and she’s there for a holiday spreading it around so people like dh can’t see his father.

@Mummyoflittledragon Nobody is stopping your DH seeing his elderly father. He can go anytime he wants.

skodadoda · 17/07/2021 15:37

@pinkcircustop

Colleague is refusing to come back early and will then have to isolate for 2 weeks.

@CliftonGreenYork Why should she come back early from her holiday?

Why should OP have holiday cancelled?

Twoforthree · 17/07/2021 15:41

It’s not as if colleague wasn’t aware this could happen at short notice. They should be angry at her, not you.

pinkcircustop · 17/07/2021 15:41

Why should OP have holiday cancelled?

@skodadoda Annual leave is granted on the basis of business needs. If the business needs her to be there, regardless of the reason, then as long as the correct notice is provided, the leave must be cancelled.

AlternativePerspective · 17/07/2021 15:43

So, since last night you’ve learned that colleague would have to isolate when coming back, that she’s refusing to come back, your boss has said he’s cancelling your leave, the union has become involved and you’re being bullied over it?

Ok.

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