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Original poster

Employer doesn't let me take annual leave for more than 2 days in a row

180 replies

Acidburn · 07/08/2021 09:54

Posting here for traffic.
I work for a very small company, there are 2 other employees and director. We sre crazy busy, the business is doing great. The problem is - my boss (the director) doesn't allow me to take annual leave for more than 2 consecutive days. He is not oppose the idea of me going on annual leave (that would be against the law), but his idea is that I should be taking long weekends, take odd days here and there and this way to cover my annual leave allowance. He doesnt let me take 5 days off because the workload is crazy.
Is what he is doing legal? Technically he allows me to take my days, its just my days are spread... Does anyone know anything about the legal side of this?
Thanks

OP posts:
NeverTalkToStrangers · 07/08/2021 10:43

It’s legal but it’s not good practice for a whole host of reasons.

Frazzled2207 · 07/08/2021 10:47

Technically legal but totally unreasonable especially the cancelling at almost no notice thing.

I’d be looking for another job. If you really want to stay you need to make him understand that sometimes, you’ll need to take a week or a fortnight off. Otherwise he’ll have to find someone to replace you.

icedcoffees · 07/08/2021 10:50

Every employer I have had did not stipulate this, but it was preferred. It’s easier for the business for you to take a large chunk of leave vs frequently taking a day off

That massively depends on the business.

But it's good business practise to "encourage" your employees to take one or two decent breaks per year for MH reasons.

catfunk · 07/08/2021 10:51

Yes it is legal but that sounds like a miserable life. I'd be leaving. They're effectively banning you from leaving the country!
They need to get a temp to cover you. I doubt if you leave that they'll be able to find anyone to replace you to put up with it.

thinkingaboutitall · 07/08/2021 10:51

@icedcoffees well, yes? I did say “every employer I have had”. Not every employer that exists

M0rT · 07/08/2021 10:52

Next time don't request annual leave, ring in sick.
And do your best to get a new job, I know job hunting is like a part time job in itself but I'd be letting things like housework slide for the moment and just focus on moving on.

Gh0stontoast · 07/08/2021 10:54

You must accrued loads of leave.

When you get a new job and give notice, make sure it uses up your leave!

BarberQueue · 07/08/2021 10:58

Take your week off next week. Let him know that you will be having the full week off as you have made plans and he didn't give you enough notice to change them. He's not going to dismiss you if you are as busy as you say.

LakieLady · 07/08/2021 10:58

It is absolutely shit and unreasonable, and the fact that it's legal just goes to show what poor employment rights we have in the UK.

I wouldn't accept a job under those conditions. We're allowed up to 4 weeks consecutively with line manager's agreement, and I've never heard of anyone being refused 4 weeks. It's great for people who like long-haul holidays.

Two days doesn't really make it viable to go away at all, unless it's fairly local. You'd spend most of your time travelling.

Someone needs to have a chat with him about work-life balance.

Amima · 07/08/2021 10:59

If the employer cancels leave without a good business reason, and you would incur a loss e.g. losing the cost of your holiday, then the employer should compensate you. Or alternatively you can resign and sue for constructive dismissal. In this situation that’s exactly what I’d do, because their behaviour in not allowing you longer holidays is unreasonable.

ikeepseeingit · 07/08/2021 11:02

It’s legal, but it’s an unreasonable expectation. I don’t know why he thinks employees that have crazy high workloads don’t need more than a long weekend off? He will burn out his staff very quickly. It’s not a thing a good boss would do.

JammyDozen · 07/08/2021 11:02

I’d imagine this is extremely bad for mental health long term. A long weekend is nice at the time and obviously better than nothing, but it offers no chance to wind down. If a FT worker is confined to taking holiday as odd days off their working life starts to look an awful lot like a part-time employee who has no holiday. There is no doubt that you should look for another job.

I worked for a company that had restrictive holiday practices - they banned people from taking single days or half-days off during the week. The work we did was not really affected by this at all, and the motive was clearly to try and stem the flood of people leaving by making it difficult to go to interviews.

forinborin · 07/08/2021 11:03

It is legal, and there are many people who would prefer many long weekends over two long stretch holidays. You're just not a good fit for each other, maybe time to look for something else.

Bogofftosomewherehot · 07/08/2021 11:04

I would get a new job, minimal notice and be working to rule in the meantime. Legal but hardly builds moral or dedication.

Floralnomad · 07/08/2021 11:05

When he called you to cancel the 2 days why didn’t you tell him you had booked to go away and it can’t be changed , you need to stand your ground with him .

Changechangychange · 07/08/2021 11:06

Sorry but what do you expect when working for a very small employer

It is not the norm for small employers to stipulate you can only take your annual leave in two-day increments. Most employers understand that employees wish to take actual holidays and go away for the week, not just have random days off.

DonLewis · 07/08/2021 11:06

It is legal, but it's shitty. So you've not had a whole week (or heaven forbid, a fortnight) off since you started? He's being very shortsighted, because employees will burn out without a proper break and if they are savvy, they'll leave for a job with better conditions.

Does he not take a week and go away? What would have happened if you'd been abroad and he cancelled your leave?

icedcoffees · 07/08/2021 11:07

@Floralnomad

When he called you to cancel the 2 days why didn’t you tell him you had booked to go away and it can’t be changed , you need to stand your ground with him .
It wouldn't matter if OP had booked to go away.

As long as he gives the legal amount of notice - he's allowed to cancel her annual leave whether she has a holiday booked or not.

ThinWomansBrain · 07/08/2021 11:12

I'd normally be the last person to advocate this, but it must be so stressful for you.

talk to your GP about how stressed you are. IF signed off for a couple of weeks with stress related illness, use the time to job hunt like crazy.

lastcall · 07/08/2021 11:12

Find a new job. That's really shitty, frankly.

If you can afford it, i'd tell him you're taking the full week off as planned. Tell him to stuff it.

CarnationCat · 07/08/2021 11:12

That's awful. I would guess that it is legal as he is allowing you to take your annual leave.

You don't have a work life balance if you can't go on holiday for a week. Your boss is extremely controlling and selfish. Find a new job.

badacorn · 07/08/2021 11:12

Legal but shit. I’ve had jobs where I couldn’t pick my annual leave days myself at all. Currently I can have days off in a row as long as there are enough staff around.

NotMyCat · 07/08/2021 11:14

That's shit
Ours is just that we can't take any leave in March or September. I never take more than 2 days off but that's my choice

Brefugee · 07/08/2021 11:21

Sorry but what do you expect when working for a very small employer?

Utter piffle. They are crazy busy - they should employ (even on short-term or part-time contracts) more people

The only person who benefits from bad business practice like this is the business owner and it is exactly the wrong attitude. It is exploitation and frankly, given how they want to stamp on employee's rights, to be expected in a UK ruled by the current government.

And sure, an employer/small business owner, isn't in business to enrich their employees (although those that do can be wildly successful) but it isn't a viable business if the only way it can survive financially is to exploit the employees (even if within the letter of the law). There is a reason why good employers (Mercedes springs to mind) have very good conditions: holidays, good maternity leave, flexible working etc etc do well and have very good employee retention.

And join a union. And vote for parties that aren't hell-bent on eroding your rights further.

clickychicky · 07/08/2021 11:24

Some employers insist on one 2 week holiday a year at least. It helps detect fraud.