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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

Holiday booked, can't book leave

231 replies

ColletteTheLot · 14/01/2022 09:55

In the past year I have gone part time in a job I was previously full time in, and work Monday - Wednesday. I am studying on Thursdays and Fridays.

Last week, our manager sent an email on Wednesday evening, after I had finished work, asking for all leave requests from 1st April to 1st September, and that these would be dealt with on a first come / first served basis. As I wasn't then at work till Monday morning, I didn't email my requests till Monday afternoon (I had to check with my husband for some of it, as we try and cover as much school holiday child care as we can between us).

We had a week away in Spain booked for summer 2020 which we moved to 2021, and then had to move again to 2022. It's paid for, and we have insurance that covers Covid.

Turns out, a colleague has requested the week the holiday has been moved to. It is in my calendar, and had been mentioned to my manager, but I hadn't formerly requested it as leave year doesn't start till 1st April.

OP posts:

2022willbebetter · 14/01/2022 10:24

Definitely raise it. They knew about the holiday (do you have that in writing?) and discriminating against part-time staff by opening up the bookings without prior notice when not all staff were at work to see the message.
As pp said, a very lazy way to manage holiday arrangements in normal times, and as you have demonstrated makes it impossible at the moment for anyone who has had to reschedule a holiday well in advance because of Covid.

Fraternaltwin · 14/01/2022 10:25

You shouldn’t have booked a holiday without knowing you could have the leave. It’s basics.

Pedalpushers · 14/01/2022 10:31

@Fraternaltwin even if it has been booked then postponed twice since 2020 and the OP literally couldn't book the leave until now? Give over.

JuergenSchwarzwald · 14/01/2022 10:36

@Doubledoorsontogarden

The tour operator should change the date with an admin fee

I was thinking this may be the easiest solution in the end.

Did you see the email on Wednesday evening? If so it was your choice not to respond until Monday afternoon agreed. I work part-time as well but I saw an important email while off I would still reply if it was in my interests to do do!

JuergenSchwarzwald · 14/01/2022 10:37

Also has your colleague actually booked anything yet? Could they move their week? Always worth asking as long as you don't try to make them feel guilty if they say no.

Nsky · 14/01/2022 10:38

Never book hol till approved

Original poster

ColletteTheLot · 14/01/2022 10:39

@Justananimalcrossing

I don't see why you couldn't of emailed back that night or even the following day (Thursday). If it was that important to get the time off then you should of put it in quickly & then discussed the remaining holiday left with your husband & booked that later to just ensure you had at least the Spain holiday confirmed. It was stated first come first served & unfortunately, you weren't first. Talk to your manager about it & explain you've got a previously postponed holiday booked that week but they are within their right to decline the time off.

I didn't see the email until the Monday morning - I didn't check my work email on my days off this time, though I often do. I would have responded on the Thursday if I had seen it.

We're a small team, and generally mention to each other when we are planning / booking holidays.

I'm also feeling a bit grrr that this colleague has been allowed 3 weeks of the school holiday off after having taken the whole of December off!

OP posts:

MrsSkylerWhite · 14/01/2022 10:40

Why didn’t you just confirm your leave before you re-booked?

Tal45 · 14/01/2022 10:42

If you didn't get the email because you weren't at work it seems very unfair to do it first come first serve. Unfortunately I don't know if there's anything you can do. Are you able to move the holiday to a different week or is that no longer possible?

Blacksheepcat · 14/01/2022 10:42

I don’t understand why you didn’t put your request in straight away on Wednesday evening by email? You left it another 5 days!!?

Original poster

ColletteTheLot · 14/01/2022 10:42

I have spoken to the travel agent and we can change the dates. With a £250 fee for changing, and an increase of nearly £1k as the cost of the holiday itself would increase by moving it from July to peak August. The current booking leaves the first morning of the school holiday - booked as that was the cheapest option. Moving it to mid / late August makes it a lot more expensive.

OP posts:

Original poster

ColletteTheLot · 14/01/2022 10:43

@Blacksheepcat

I don’t understand why you didn’t put your request in straight away on Wednesday evening by email? You left it another 5 days!!?

As I keep saying, I don't work Thursdays / Fridays so didn't see the email until Monday morning. I didn't ignore the email on Wednesday.

OP posts:

Tal45 · 14/01/2022 10:43

The OP said she had to change it from last year - she probably couldn't book leave that early.

Lou98 · 14/01/2022 10:43

@Blacksheepcat

I don’t understand why you didn’t put your request in straight away on Wednesday evening by email? You left it another 5 days!!?

The OP has already said she had left work on the Wed by the time it was sent and she is part time so wasn't in again until Monday morning. Read the OP - she hasn't just left it 5 days then complained

worriedatthemoment · 14/01/2022 10:45

@Justananimalcrossing because they wasn't in work to see the email until the monday

Tal45 · 14/01/2022 10:45

Can you speak to the person who has taken that week and see if they could cancel that one and tag another week on the end or something?

Lou98 · 14/01/2022 10:45

It does sound unfair OP but I'm not really sure there's much you can do about it.

I assume the other colleague wouldn't be willing to swap days at all?

It is hard with holidays in the school holidays when you're not allowed to book holidays far in advance. Although, I expect if you had been allowed to book holidays a year in advance or whatever then they would have been booked up anyway.

I would try talking to your manager that you'd told about it before and see what they say, there may be a way around it but unfortunately, other than move or cancel the holiday (or change jobs) I'm not really sure what else you could do

worriedatthemoment · 14/01/2022 10:46

@LeSquigh really how when many companies don't allow you too book holiday until 6 months in advance etc all the decent holidays and discounts are gone and also in OP it clearly stated this was booked for 2020 then moved and moved again

NoSquirrels · 14/01/2022 10:46

Speak to your manager. If your colleague has been allocated 3 weeks in school holidays, and you were unfairly disadvantaged by the deadline and your working pattern, and you have a pre-existing commitment that’s Covid-related then they need to sort it out.

Be the persistent thorn - politely.

Original poster

ColletteTheLot · 14/01/2022 10:46

@MadeForThis

Did you see the email on Wednesday evening? If so it was your choice not to respond until Monday afternoon.

If you were the last to respond then you will likely miss out on some desired dates.

Other option would be to ask your colleague to swap that week. But she may also have something booked.

Why did you wait 5 days to reply to the email?

I checked with colleague, and he hasn't booked anything yet, but like me, wanted to go as soon as schools break up as flights are cheaper then.

And I didn't see the email till Monday morning, which is why I didn't respond till Monday.

OP posts:

worriedatthemoment · 14/01/2022 10:47

Do people bother actually reading the OP before the reply ?

nanbread · 14/01/2022 10:49

I would talk to your manager, explain that you had already requested the holiday and agreed it with them, and tell them as it was sent when you weren't working you were unable to respond before Monday. See if they can make an exception or could you find cover - you have plenty of time to do so.

BarbaraofSeville · 14/01/2022 10:50

YANBU because it's unreasonable to not accept leave requests until the start of the leave year when plenty of people booker earlier than this.

It's also unfair to offer first come first served for peak weeks. They should ask for all requests by a certain date and then share out accordingly

guardiansofthegalaxychocs · 14/01/2022 10:50

I think there are a few issues here

'releasing' holidays on a set day seems a recipe for distaster. Ours doesn't have a time limit and if it's very far in advance it's up to you and your manager to discuss.
Having a first come first served policy clearly also isn't fair. It means one person will get all of what they want and another get none.
It's particularly unfair for anyone who might be delayed by being part time, is a carer, is on maternity leave/parental leave etc.

worriedatthemoment · 14/01/2022 10:50

I would speak to your manager and explain you feel its unfair as you had notified and email was sent whilst you were not there otherwise you would if replied
Explain you have spoken to ta to move and it will be expensive and you feel its a little unfair in this instance and is there anything they can do ?

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