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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Employers think they own us

110 replies

changingsheets · 19/08/2021 14:48

Name change.

I had a holiday request granted for October approved when I asked for it back in June.
They have now declined my request, stating it's due to staffing issues.

Because it had been accepted I went and booked a holiday to go and visit family, who have also booked the time off so we can all spend time together.

I work 5 days but lately they either add on an extra shift, or extra hours onto my actual shift. So if I'm supposed to be on a 7-3 they'll change it to 7-5. They don't ask, they just expect you to do it. So you cannot make any plans at all.

The rules are already in place where you cannot have holidays in June, July, August and December. So that's why I decided on October.

Aibu to think that a lot of employers think they own us? I know I'm being ridiculous but I'm so angry!

I cannot quit because I have children and the family rely on my wage. I am looking for other work but all the jobs in my area are 20 hours per week or under. One was a 4 hour contract!

OP posts:
ivykaty44 · 19/08/2021 19:18

Id just go on the holiday

write and say its booked and paid for and if they want to go to mediation through ACAS you'll be happy to go down this route

what can they do?

sack you when they have no staff? they can't keep staff as they treat them like this?

ivykaty44 · 19/08/2021 19:20

if you are working for minimum wage and they want you do unpaid hours for hand over - this is illegal

go to acas with this as they can be fined for this and you would be paid for the hours you were underpaid

HirplesWithHaggis · 19/08/2021 19:25

@SapatSea

Sounds like retail (Aldi?) or Carer.
Aldi (and Lidl) are known as excellent employers, I'd be surprised if it was them.
Cyw2018 · 19/08/2021 19:26

Is there any capacity for you to take your leave in September, another time in October or November (2.8 weeks of leave at that)? They are legally obliged to allow you to take your statutory annual leave and it is not unreasonable to take half your leave over half the year, which their rules and now this cancellation are making very difficult.

Firstly point out that you have bookings already made and paid, then approach it from what I've said above. Then if they can't/won't allow you to take your legal statutory annual leave go on holiday anyway and if they try to dismiss you then fight them in a tribunal.

Obviously do all this via email so that you have a strong paper trail.

whatisforteamum · 19/08/2021 19:36

Sound like hospitality to me hence no summer or Xmas holidays.Terrible way to treat staff.

Gimlisaxe · 19/08/2021 19:40

This sounds like a stationary company I use to work for.

If they are saying you need to be on the floor 20 minutes before, with no pay, I would emai HR with regards to that, because it might affect your breaks.

If it is who I think, depending on how long you have been there, it might be worth waiting around for the next load of redundancies

LemonGelato · 19/08/2021 19:57

OP, Have you tie raising a formal grievance? Do, it might get overturned.

Also how long have you worked there? is it over 2 years? Unfair dismissal claims can be made over 2 years.

If an employer cancels a period of leave without a clear business reason and, for example, this results in the employee not being able to go on a booked holiday and suffering financial loss, you could resign & make a claim for constructive dismissal. You could argue that the cancellation is a breach of the implied duty of mutual trust and confidence, entitling you to resign. ET claims are drastic though and you would have to resign and leave.

Also When is your leave year up and would you have time to reschedule your leave before that date?

Legally an employer must not cancel a period of annual leave if it means that the employee is not able to take their full statutory annual leave entitlement in that leave year.

ICantFindTheBuffet · 19/08/2021 21:13

Fall mysteriously ill on those dates.

LakieLady · 19/08/2021 21:32

Employment rights in this country are appalling.

It seems outrageous that an employer is allowed to cancel leave when staff have already booked and paid for a holiday.

Babyroobs · 19/08/2021 21:52

I'd be furious if this was me. I'm sure they can't do this when you have booked a holiday. Are they going to refund your costs.
I just find employers treat people badly generally, well some do. Then when you leave they get all upset, but really we owe them nothing. Employers need to learn to value their staff. I absolutely go the extra mile for my clients and put in extra hours but only do it for the clients, not the employer.

rachelvbwho · 19/08/2021 21:56

@changingsheets

I'm looking for a new job. I'm printing out CVs as I'm typing.

It wasn't always like this, then all managers and directors were replaced and everything changed.

They want us on the floor 15-20 minutes before/after the start of our shift for handover. We do not get paid for this. That's 30-40 minutes per day!

We barely get breaks, if we do we are constantly interrupted. The break would mean half an hour without wearing a mask which would be amazing for the chapped skin around my mouth.

Can you guess my job?

Oooo a guessing game.

I would bet it is a certain budget supermarket that isn't Lidl.... and it's name begins with an A

(second guess would be the big 'rainforest' online shop and the third guess would be that very messy distributer with a terrible reputation The 'H' Group)

rachelvbwho · 19/08/2021 21:58

There was a whole TV show that highlighted the terrible way that Aldi treats its staff....

headintheproverbial · 19/08/2021 21:58

Of course they can't do this when you have booked a holiday. Employers have a legal obligation to allow staff to use annual leave and have a right to request you take it to suit their requirements. But once you have requested it and they have accepted they can't then unilaterally change it especially not if this then causes you financial hardship.

Speak to ACAS or citizens advice.

rachelvbwho · 19/08/2021 21:59

That response ^^ was supposed to have tagged @HirplesWithHaggis Envy

Rainbowsew · 19/08/2021 22:01

I'd say hospitality too or perhaps retail given the times you can't be off.

I think it's worth calling their bluff too. If they are that short staffed they can't afford to lose a good worker. People need time off otherwise their health suffers be that physical or mental. I agree with a pp it isn't enough sometimes to be paid, even if it was double etc

HirplesWithHaggis · 19/08/2021 22:10

@rachelvbwho

That response ^^ was supposed to have tagged *@HirplesWithHaggis* Envy
I've seen it. Grin I didn't see the programme you mention, but will take your word for it. I had just read (mostly on MN) that they're pretty good, pay above average and have waiting lists for jobs, but have no personal experience.
AngeloMysterioso · 19/08/2021 22:16

In my last job I worked a week’s worth of unpaid overtime in one month- I was off sick for two days with norovirus and my boss deducted those two days from that month’s pay.

TylluanBach · 19/08/2021 22:20

Sounds like retail to me.

Bargebill19 · 20/08/2021 02:23

@headintheproverbial.
Sadly, due to covid and the new laws, they have been able to disallow all employees holiday for the last year. However the employees entitlement must be carried over. (Not necessarily honoured though ime)

ivykaty44 · 20/08/2021 06:05

I doubt it’s retail or hospitality with a union rep mentioned

BarbaraofSeville · 20/08/2021 06:12

Surely covid laws haven't over-ridden the requirement for the statutory minimum amount of annual leave of 28 days including BHs?

If the OP is not allowed to take leave for 4 months of the year and they're cancelling it at other times, she's at risk of not being able to take her minimum holiday allowance.

I'd also be looking closely at real hourly rates of pay if you're having to work half an hour a day for free and you're anywhere near NMW.

Onlinedilema · 20/08/2021 06:29

I would tell them you are not cancelling your leave, if they argue go to the doctor and get a sick note stating that you cannot cope with the stress anymore and go on sick leave.
Whilst I don't think you should go in early this is what I had been doing until all the staff got together and forced management to give us prep time. Although management did not ask/tell me to go in early, it was the only way I could manage my work load.
Can you join forces with your work colleagues and write a collective letter to management stating all your grievances?

icedcoffees · 20/08/2021 06:46

@ivykaty44

I doubt it’s retail or hospitality with a union rep mentioned
Plenty of big retail companies have unions!
dizzydizzydizzy · 20/08/2021 06:52

Not surprised you are upset OP. Absolutely outrageous behaviour by your employer.

PoorCatto · 20/08/2021 07:18

I'm currently having the same issue. Had to cancel my holiday. It's not the first time they've messed me around in recent months so I'm job hunting now.

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