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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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:
NewMessageFrom · 14/01/2022 11:33

@KnobJockey

Were you physically able to book those holiday dates in before this point? If you were, and you just haven't because you were waiting for them to ask, then it's your own fault. If you weren't able to, then I would argue the point about the booking system. If your colleague taking 3 weeks off means that you are not able to take any off in the school holidays, I would argue that time needs to be split between you. I would also put in December/ Christmas now, and if he's booked it again, complain that te split isn't fair.
its been said more than once that the OP couldnt book
NewMessageFrom · 14/01/2022 11:36

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

It is discrimination (as far as I know) as being a part time worker you were disadvantaged by not working on certain days

NewMessageFrom · 14/01/2022 11:37

@KnobJockey apologies, i was a little harsh in my reply

Beeinmybonnets · 14/01/2022 11:37

@Ohdearthatwasntgreatwasit

Agreed, this is looking like indirect discrimination on the grounds of sex.

Part time workers are clearly disadvantaged by this policy, and are overwhelmingly more likely to be women. It’s also likely to fall down on the grounds of pregnancy/maternity too, as anyone on mat leave is also placed at a disadvantage.

Yes this. Definitely push back with your manager, I definitely would.
ShadowPuppets · 14/01/2022 11:37

@HelloFrostyMorning not McD's, but sounds like a very similar system. Highly frustrating when you're just trying to plan your life in advance! Sorry, I know that it's off topic, I was just surprised by the number of people saying no one should ever book anything without having the leave already secured, while it's a shit system I didn't think it was that unusual. But as you say, not relevant here!

Doubledenimrock · 14/01/2022 11:38

Speak to your manager. I had the same when I worked for a charity except for training opportunities. First come first served but always seemed to be offered on days when I wasn't working. Thankfully I left the job to work elsewhere because the reply I got when I queried was defensive. I agree that potentially this could be discriminatory so is worth persuing to an extent

FloatyBoaty · 14/01/2022 11:42

If the holiday was booked before the job, didn’t you tell them about it at interview? It’s a fairly standard question “do you have any holidays booked”?

Assuming you did- just remind them you disclosed at IV

If not, I think you’ll have to suck it up & move your holiday to a date that works for your employer, or take unpaid leave

Doubledenimrock · 14/01/2022 11:43

In my current team, for example, if a very busy holiday period needs covering the list goes up weeks in advance to collate names that will be available. Outside of these Tim's folk can book leave. We are a team of around 15 so not small. However your manager should try to find ways of managing your leave much more fairly.

WonderfulYou · 14/01/2022 11:45

I would firstly tell them of your situation and ask if they’d consider swapping with you.
If not then you have no choice but to change the dates.

NewMessageFrom · 14/01/2022 11:47

[quote ShadowPuppets]@HelloFrostyMorning not McD's, but sounds like a very similar system. Highly frustrating when you're just trying to plan your life in advance! Sorry, I know that it's off topic, I was just surprised by the number of people saying no one should ever book anything without having the leave already secured, while it's a shit system I didn't think it was that unusual. But as you say, not relevant here![/quote]
Also in the UK your leave can be cancelled by employer (notice is 2 time length of leave, for 5 days leave, needs to be cancelled 10 days prior)

Doubledenimrock · 14/01/2022 11:49

So in my workplace the first week of the summer holidays is known to be in demand for a/l and management are very careful to insure we have the correct staff ratios before allowing leave. This is done quite a few months in advance though to be fair.

Katela18 · 14/01/2022 11:49

I think in this situation where you have discussed it with your manager, and where your manager has sent the email knowing you wouldn't see it for several days, it is unfair.

Do you have the discussion you had with manager about changed dates in writing. If so, id be forwarding and asking what they will do about it

jollygoose · 14/01/2022 11:51

sounds very unfair to me, full time colleague is always going to grab school holidays first I would be working up to near date and give notice.

LittleGwyneth · 14/01/2022 11:58

It's completely unfair that you're not allowed more control over what time you take off, given that you're functionally only paid to work 48 weeks a year, and that is your time to take. I don't think it should be called a leave request at all - it's wrong that businesses can decide who gets to take what when. Talk to your manager and see if they can work something out.

Original poster
ColletteTheLot · 14/01/2022 11:59

@FloatyBoaty

If the holiday was booked before the job, didn’t you tell them about it at interview? It’s a fairly standard question “do you have any holidays booked”?

Assuming you did- just remind them you disclosed at IV

If not, I think you’ll have to suck it up & move your holiday to a date that works for your employer, or take unpaid leave

I've worked in the job for 6 years. It's not a new job, but one that I have gone from full time to part time in.
OP posts:
BernadetteRostankowskiWolowitz · 14/01/2022 12:02

Bring it up politely with management.

Then if you get nowhere, I'd suggest dropping in that the way it was done was discriminatory towards those who weren't contracted on the days the email would have been seen.

tanstaafl · 14/01/2022 12:05

@worriedatthemoment

Do people bother actually reading the OP before the reply ?
Doesn’t seem like it does it?

OP should report to council and extend their dropped kerb.

Fraternaltwin · 14/01/2022 12:06

[quote Pedalpushers]@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.[/quote]
In my profession we would never book a holiday without having the leave approved. I don’t know any profession where you can just tell your employer when you’re going on holiday and expect them to just accommodate it, regardless of other staffing needs. The covid holiday cancellation situation doesn’t change this. I don’t understand why anyone would think this would be ok to do.

The only time this would be ok would be taking a pre booked holiday into a new job.

Mumofsend · 14/01/2022 12:12

@Fraternaltwin a job with ridiculous booking rules and a twice rolled over holiday booking?

Op have you spoken to your manager?

KnobJockey · 14/01/2022 12:15

@NewMessageFrom I've read all of the OPs responses (before mine), and I can't see anywhere that she is not allowed to book it off. I've read other people say they cant though. Feel free to re read and point it out to me if I'm being blind!

JeshusHChr · 14/01/2022 12:15

YANBU for reasons other PP have outlined - first come, first serve is a rubbish way to allocate leave when a starting gun has been fired not everyone will hear (and its rubbish anyway!).

HerbertChops · 14/01/2022 12:17

YANBU employers under employment law have a duty to treat part time staff equally with full time staff. They have not treated you equally on this occasion. I’d ask them to allow your holiday as you had already mentioned it and the way they have organised the annual leave requests without considering your work days in regard to the ‘first come first served’ has discriminated against you as part time staff.

OnlyFoolsnMothers · 14/01/2022 12:21

I’d argue that- you didn’t see the email as you weren’t working. Is there a way both of you could be off?

NewMessageFrom · 14/01/2022 12:22

@NewMessageFrom

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

It is discrimination (as far as I know) as being a part time worker you were disadvantaged by not working on certain days

@KnobJockey

I think that the OP states it here? As in they were advised on Weds that they were allowed to book Apr-Sep and not before?

Mummyoflittledragon · 14/01/2022 12:23

Definitely push back, especially as you informed your manager of the dates. Sex based discrimination, even better that your colleague is male. What a poor system to allow people to take 3 weeks off in a block during summer holidays and on a first come, first served basis.