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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Employer asking me to cancel overseas holiday

179 replies

chedderandport · 09/04/2022 08:44

Hello

Booked and.paid for a 2 week break in the sun , leaving in a week

Due to other members of the team being off sick been asked to cancel my.holiday

Has anyone else had this ever?

OP posts:
alltheteeshirts · 09/04/2022 11:20

They haven't given you enough notice.

If it was a job where I could work from home, I'd offer to work a little bit whilst away, but only a little.

As you say, cancelling now isn't just about the cost or being able to rearrange, it's about the knock on impact on other people you've already made a commitment to.

Doggirl · 09/04/2022 11:23

The only situation where there's a requirement to cancel at short notice is very senior jobs, where the higher remuneration is partly to compensate for the financial fallout of this- and even then, it has to be part of the contract agreed/ notified in advance.
OP I sympathise. I have a boss who won't even start looking for temp labour until the person has been off for weeks "oh, we'll just muddle through ". Even when I was pregnant- a situations where you have several months notice of the absence ffs- he only advertised for cover once I was 2 months into maternity leave. Then his 'helpful ' contribution to managing the workload is to point out the bleeding obvious stuff the remaining staff have let go overdue. Angry

Hawkins001 · 09/04/2022 11:26

All the best op

Hawkins001 · 09/04/2022 11:28

@chedderandport

Hello

Booked and.paid for a 2 week break in the sun , leaving in a week

Due to other members of the team being off sick been asked to cancel my.holiday

Has anyone else had this ever?

I guess it depends on your role, e.g. Intelligence services etc, completely understandable, vs checkout staff in a supermarket, I'd say it depends on how critical the role is, when considering the request.
cakeorwine · 09/04/2022 11:29

I love all these people asking why companies are short staffed at the moment.

Covid hasn't gone away.

However - I would be very reluctant to cancel my holiday - however, I get the feeling about letting colleagues down.

BitOutOfPractice · 09/04/2022 11:29

I wonder if the person asking would cancel? I bet they wouldn’t. CF!

Have a lovely holiday op and don’t fret about this while you’re away!!

TangledNemo · 09/04/2022 11:44

If I had just booked a couple of days at random to use up days, I would probably cancel to help out if work were busy and short staffed. It’s generally a sign of a badly run company though, so I’d probably be looking to leave already. If I booked days off for a holiday or birthday, or went to a lot of effort organising childcare for those specific days etc there is no way I would cancel (well, unless I got a great offer like @SmugOldBag’s colleague).

Doodar · 09/04/2022 11:46

You had to arrange lots to go,plus you mentioned respite care.
What would happen if staff were sick while you were away?
Go on holiday and enjoy yourself.

User748956 · 09/04/2022 12:02

Of course don't cancel, I'm surprised they even asked, its not like you have booked 2 weeks off to do the decorating or something like that that could be more easily moved.

MigsandTiggs · 09/04/2022 12:04

You will need to check, but I think that legally, while you are entitled to min stat leave, the timing is up to the employer and depends on business need. I would approach my employer to explain how much you would be out of pocket and ask for these costs to be covered. This happened with my husband and his company repaid the holiday cost.

Original poster
chedderandport · 09/04/2022 12:05

Thanks

Its not covid illnesses u fortunately.its mat leave and stress leave I have been covering for , I've flagged up a few times that I need help but it's only.now I am due to be off it's been looked at

Not a well run company , attitude is let's just muddle through but not a bad company if you know what I mean just hopelessly disorganised

OP posts:
RJnomore1 · 09/04/2022 12:07

It’s fine for them to ask

It’s fine for you to say no given the notice

🤷🏻‍♀️

User748956 · 09/04/2022 12:08

If it is those reasons OP it sounds fairly long term so they should really get some temporary cover in.

cakeorwine · 09/04/2022 12:13

@chedderandport

Thanks

Its not covid illnesses u fortunately.its mat leave and stress leave I have been covering for , I've flagged up a few times that I need help but it's only.now I am due to be off it's been looked at

Not a well run company , attitude is let's just muddle through but not a bad company if you know what I mean just hopelessly disorganised

That's different then.

Yes - when a business is not covering those things, then it can be noticeable when employees are off.

But if people aren't allowed to take a holiday, then that is going to cause issues in itself. Longer term issues.

user1471538283 · 09/04/2022 12:16

This is not your problem. We are still in the middle of a pandemic so people are going to be sick. People have to take leave.

I've been in so many teams that if one is sick and one is on leave things crumble.

Doggirl · 09/04/2022 12:19

Mat leave is hardly something that should come as a shock to the employer (unless it's been brought forward suddenly eg employee had intended to go at 36 weeks but then goes into labour at 28 weeks). Even assuming the employee doesn't disclose until she's showing, that leaves several months to plan!

Mummyoflittledragon · 09/04/2022 12:25

Seeing as they haven’t look at the lack of staff, your boss and other management will have to muddle through... like you have.

sazzy5 · 09/04/2022 12:26

You need a break too, if someone is off with stress surely they realise you are being put under more pressure. Stick to your plans, enjoy your break, you deserve it.

BlueOverYellow · 09/04/2022 12:42

@BritInUS1

They can ask but legally they can't make you

For a 2 week holiday they would have to give you a minimum of 4 weeks notice to cancel your leave

This

Just say no

BlueOverYellow · 09/04/2022 12:49

Don't feel guilty. You don't owe them your life. They'd be looking to replace you if you got hit by a bus quite quickly.

worriedaboutmoney2022 · 09/04/2022 12:52

Legally they cannot ask you to do this or make you
I think the only exception is if your in the armed forces, police and some frontline nhs staff
But either way I'd be saying no it's your holiday and it's unlikely they'll compensate you with the whole amount

Give ACAS a call on Monday morning to ask their advice

veronicagoldberg · 09/04/2022 12:59

I'd be telling them to fuck off, quite frankly.

gettingolderandgrumpy · 09/04/2022 13:02

It happened to me once holiday booked abroad and boss asks me to cancel because of new accounts package software upgrade. I said no he said ok and that was the end of the conversation. I did think it was odd I had flights booked was a family holiday all looking forward why would I cancel ?. Nor did boss but up a fight why it was ‘can you cancel holiday’ and I said ‘no ‘ . Maybe he was annoyed or maybe he just thought what’s the harm in asking .

AWOL66 · 09/04/2022 13:14

You're doing the right thing 100 per cent. My work place is constantly short staffed and is always refusing leave requests on that basis. I am on the cusp of having big meetings with them and my union and will consider legal action if nothing changes. Being short staffed isn't an employee's problem and shouldn't affect their private life. It's a common issue everywhere - don't think it's a one off time and jeapodise your personal life. I've noticed managers rarely bend over backwards cancelling their plans in such situations - they always miraculously find a plan b!

Hairbrush123 · 09/04/2022 13:30

My manager did this! I did cancel it as it was during lockdown

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