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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:
Zombiemum1946 · 16/01/2022 04:12

I think the only option that may be left open to you is to try and swap leave with the member of staff who's requested that week. That person may be okay to change if you get hold of them before they book something.

Krabapple · 16/01/2022 07:26

Are you in a union? You have a strong case as this policy directly discriminates against part time workers. Speak to HR and don’t take it lying down. Personally I would be looking for another job too as none of your colleagues come out of this well- either your manager for being completely inflexible and sending a first come first served request knowing it wasn’t fair, or your colleague who deliberately bagged all the best dates.

newname12345 · 16/01/2022 08:58

@Krabapple

Are you in a union? You have a strong case as this policy directly discriminates against part time workers. Speak to HR and don’t take it lying down. Personally I would be looking for another job too as none of your colleagues come out of this well- either your manager for being completely inflexible and sending a first come first served request knowing it wasn’t fair, or your colleague who deliberately bagged all the best dates.
I don't think this policy necessarily discriminates against part time workers as it seems like the OP may not had been first to officially ask even if she had been in.

The manager's policy does though seem wrong (one out at a time/first come first served/allowing 3 weeks) and worth a discussion with HR.

The OP though was a bit silly not requesting her holiday formally when she knew her manager would now only allow one person out at a time.

Krabapple · 16/01/2022 09:17

Of course it discriminates against part time workers as it wasn’t an even playing field to begin with. You can only say first come first served if everyone is notified at the same time. Also thd op had repeatedly said she couldn’t formally book the leave.

NotMyselfWithoutCoffee · 16/01/2022 09:46

Oh well.
You'll just have to go on leave for stress around the time of your holiday. Wink

Lulu49 · 16/01/2022 09:46

I would have requested it as soon as it had been moved. Although not official you boss would have had the email and would have been aware. Then you could have just emailed straight away to remind him/her

MintyGreenDream · 16/01/2022 09:56

I had a similar problem and I was given it unpaid at managers discretion

Chimley · 16/01/2022 10:24

@Lulu49

I would have requested it as soon as it had been moved. Although not official you boss would have had the email and would have been aware. Then you could have just emailed straight away to remind him/her
Hindsight is a great thing but it doesn't sound as though when the holiday was moved any of these policies (no 2 team members off at the same time, first come first served) were in place so the OP didn't know she had to put it in writing to not be denied.
PeachyPeachTrees · 16/01/2022 12:25

I think if you go to your boss first and don't get anywhere, then go to HR and suggest that there is an exception made this once that both you and the colleague who got in first can both have that week. Could you work a full week before and make it so that all work is up to date, show them that you are really trying to work this out in everyone's best interests? Please update us tomorrow and good luck.

Middleagedspreadisreal · 16/01/2022 19:06

I'd change jobs.

newname12345 · 16/01/2022 21:28

@Krabapple My point is the OP may have been at a disadvantage, but then so was any of her full-time colleagues who were on leave/sick/in late. Equally any full or part-time members of staff who checked their email out of hours or start work would be at an advantage. Very difficult to notify everyone at the same time via email.

The OP could have sent an email rather than asked verbally. I've done this before - I've booked expensive flights almost a year in advance and though the HR systems meant no-one could officially approve my league, I had proof that I wanted it.

Sedai · 16/01/2022 21:38

Yabu, but in your defense, surely your manager should have texted you to ask for your requests if it was first come, first served. I'd do this if this happened and one of my team were off.

PikachuAndMe · 17/01/2022 10:50

I agree that you should speak to HR. Depending g on the outcome of that discussion put a grievance in stating that you have been treated unfairly due to part time working and also this is indirect discrimination on the grounds of sex.

Whatever happens I would be taking my holiday and make sure they know it. What is the worst that will happen if you go on the holiday? They give you a warning when you return, so what. You want to find something else anyway so continue looking for a new job.

Foolsrule · 17/01/2022 16:04

And so you leave. Petty managers are never good managers!

HollaHolla · 17/01/2022 16:10

Sadly, you don't leave bad jobs, per se. You leave bad managers... :(

cakewench · 17/01/2022 17:20

As you say you hope to not be in this job by that point, maybe just don't reschedule yet and see what happens. Try taking it up with HR as others have suggested, but it does sound like something which might resolve itself? (Sorry though because that sounds really stressful!)

Original poster
ColletteTheLot · 18/01/2022 12:14

I tried to discuss with manager, but she was very "this was the rule, sorry". So I've emailed her manager. He says that having a one off at a time rule is slightly ridiculous and will speak to her. So we will see what comes of that.
We have a reactive portion to our jobs - think IT support type thing - and manager worries issues will come up that require all 4 of us working. In last 4 years, this has only happened twice. And once manager was actually off and we all managed it fine.

To clarify a few points.

She sent the email at 8pm at night. I technically finish work at 4.30pm though that day I was working till 6pm. If she had sent it earlier that day, I would have been able to respond.

I didn't check holiday dates with husband. I just had to check whether he had booked some other dates off for childcare or whether I should.

I'm the only one in team that works part time, though my manager works flexible hours for childcare purposes. We are actively encouraged not to check emails etc outside of working hours in order to promote a good work / life balance. If there is a need I will do. If she had whatsapped our team group to say the email had been sent, I would have checked it.

In an ideal world, I won't be in the job by then - but I also have a 3 month notice period, so chances are, I still will!

OP posts:
Toanewstart22 · 18/01/2022 12:29

Why didn’t put book off the holiday as soon as you’d booked the holiday?

rookiemere · 18/01/2022 12:38

Has your colleague booked his holiday yet? If not then any chance of discussing with him ?

Wexone · 18/01/2022 12:44

@Toanewstart22 RTFT - Op has said that window to book work holidays only opened recently and that holiday was booked before. She said it verbally to her manager before window opened

IntermittentParps · 18/01/2022 12:47

@rookiemere

Has your colleague booked his holiday yet? If not then any chance of discussing with him ?
The OP says he's not been helpful.
Toanewstart22 · 18/01/2022 12:54

[quote Wexone]@Toanewstart22 RTFT - Op has said that window to book work holidays only opened recently and that holiday was booked before. She said it verbally to her manager before window opened[/quote]
What’s “recently”?

Spidey66 · 18/01/2022 12:58

@Toanewstart22

Why didn’t put book off the holiday as soon as you’d booked the holiday?
She's already explained, it was originally cancelled due to Covid and put to a different date by the tour company and she couldn't book the leave for the rearranged date until now.
TheHallouminati · 18/01/2022 12:58

Is there any chance manager has deliberately sent this email at that time in order to allow your colleague to book before you'd realised?
If Thurs and Fri are not your working days it does seem like a bit of a coincidence?

Toanewstart22 · 18/01/2022 13:00

@Spidey66

* She's already explained, it was originally cancelled due to Covid and put to a different date by the tour company and she couldn't book the leave for the rearranged date until now.*

Makes no sense

  1. Travel company would have consulted with op before changing dates
  2. The deadline was for the last date that people could submit holiday. I would have been opened for a period of time before then
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