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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:
Sapphireskies · 10/04/2022 18:49

I think you know the answer OP- NO I am NOT cancelling my holiday just because you don't have enough staff or for any other reason. How blimmin cheeky and rude of them.

sueelleker · 10/04/2022 19:07

@Sapphireskies

I think you know the answer OP- NO I am NOT cancelling my holiday just because you don't have enough staff or for any other reason. How blimmin cheeky and rude of them.
Well known quote; "A lack of planning on your part does not constitute an emergency on mine".
Runmybathforme · 10/04/2022 19:09

Why would you even consider this is reasonable ? I would have said " no " immediately. I've never heard of this before buy then I work for the NHS, so it wouldn't be allowed. It's a management problem, nothing to do with you at all.

NickHS · 10/04/2022 19:12

Many Mumsnet comments are far too ‘us and them’ about employment issues. You don’t want to put your company of employment into logistical and financial hardship or there may be no company - and thus, no job - as a consequence. However, you must be fully compensated for any unrefundable costs from cancelling your holiday. Secondly - if they consider you such a key employee - they should sweeten your concession with additional ex-gratia payment, equivalent to two weeks of your salary. If they say no, they’re just trying it on.

Gowithme · 10/04/2022 19:15

Why are you covering other staff and not being paid? The reason they're not hiring anyone else is because they can mug you off for free. Take the holiday and please do not do any more unpaid overtime, ever. Tell them that they need to tell you how to claim back for those days as you haven't been automatically paid for them. This is not ok OP.

tkwal · 10/04/2022 19:18

Not your problem. There are other people who need consideration too

WhereYouLeftIt · 10/04/2022 19:22

@chedderandport

Thanks I'm saying no, have worked additional.17 days unpaid overtime covering absences since Dec 2021 and I'm knackered and desperately need a break

Could take my laptop and work from holiday every day but then I think what's the point of going away

Its known absence so not a new thing and due to cost control we don't hire cover

"17 days unpaid overtime" Shock. FFS, put a stop to that right away! Insist or being paid, because unpaid you're just encouraging them to keep treating you this badly. After all - it's free! Well it's free to them, to you the cost is getting higher and higher.
FlowerArranger · 10/04/2022 19:34

@whynotwhatknot

Yeah youre not helping yourself doing all that overtime they just wont hire any cover will they and are expecting you to do it even now youve booked a hiliday
I agree.

@chedderandport - they are taking advantage of you........ BUT you are allowing it. You need to:-

  • put in a claim for the 17 days of unpaid work
  • go on your prebooked, previously approved holiday
  • look for another job....... because this job is never going to be satisfactory.
ArrrMeHearties · 10/04/2022 19:35

Go on your holiday it's booked and paid for and they haven't given you enough notice to change your plans

cheffie74 · 10/04/2022 19:36

Tell your boss to whistle and use agency staff that's what they are for.

Comtesse · 10/04/2022 19:39

No way, no way, no way! I guess they can ask (I would never do it) but you should feel not a single pang about saying absolutely not possible. Do not entertain it and feel zero guilt.

Benjispruce4 · 10/04/2022 19:52

Never heard of that, how awful! It’s not that simple.

lightand · 10/04/2022 19:54

You may have noticed that even the elites, especially the elites, do not cancel their holidays. For pretty much anything whatsoever.

SarahBellam · 10/04/2022 20:24

OP, I survived a massive round of redundancies last year, in the middle of COVID, in an industry that wasn’t unduly affected by COVID and ‘could’ have been much more gentle. We lost some very good people and the workload doubled for the rest of us. It taught me two things. 1. A company will throw you under a bus if it wants to with few qualms. 2. Work hard and be efficient and willing to work hard within your job envelope, but don’t work to disadvantage yourself. Don’t bend over backwards so far you’re on the floor. Supporting them should not have a negative impact on on you, because you can bet, if the tables were turned they wouldn’t return the favour. They can ask, but you can absolutely say no. You have made plans, expensive and much anticipated plans, at it would be unreasonable to expect you to cancel them at short notice, especially since no compensation, and time off in lieu has been offered. A bright, breezy, ‘I can’t but hope you find someone’ should do. Don’t bargain, say, ‘sorry but…’. Don’t create an opening for bargaining. It’s better to let your employer down than your family or friends.

HollaHolla · 10/04/2022 20:34

Many years ago, when I was young and less worldly wise, I was asked to cancel a long awaited, long haul, month long holiday. This was because a building project, which I was coordinating the subsequent office move for, ran late.
I changed my dates a little (by two weeks), and incurred some charges - which I was never fully reimbursed for. In the end, the building project (the bit I had absolutely no control over) ran 4 weeks late, and the move happened whilst I was in Australia.
Some senior colleagues still complained I hadn’t been there, when I returned. One even said to my boss, that I should have been made to cancel/come back early.
I learned my lesson from that job, in so many ways….

Kentucky83 · 10/04/2022 20:40

Absolutely not, THEY are being completely unreasonable. Apart from showing that they don't value you as an employee or a human being they're showing complete disregard for the fact that there are others going with you too. If it was just time off at home then by all means ask you to change the days but if they're aware you have something booked then how very dare they!

Buglife · 10/04/2022 20:41

I’ve never worked anywhere that would expect an employee to shoulder the costs of cancelling a booked holiday, I would definitely refuse, not sure HR would have a leg to stand on if they took it further either.

skodadoda · 10/04/2022 20:52

@chedderandport

Only.been in job 2 years and because we all WFH for a large period of that people have got used to being on call 24/7
This, plus doing unpaid overtime and their refusal to hire cover shows very poor management. They’re taking the piss and it should stop.
Jamc93 · 10/04/2022 21:10

Would depend, did you book the holiday before booking your time off work? If they've already accepted your holiday request then they are being unreasonable, but if you've only just notified them and tried to book your time off, then they have the right to decline your holiday request.

BeforeGodAndAllTheFish · 10/04/2022 21:17

@Jamc93

Would depend, did you book the holiday before booking your time off work? If they've already accepted your holiday request then they are being unreasonable, but if you've only just notified them and tried to book your time off, then they have the right to decline your holiday request.
Did you actually read the OP? Because if you did actually read it, then you wouldn't have posted this question.
Jamc93 · 10/04/2022 21:23

Yes.. they've stated they had booked the holiday, but not that they had their annual leave booked and approved by their manager already. As stated if this is the case then yes their manager is being unreasonable

SucculentChalice · 10/04/2022 21:29

@chedderandport

Thanks I'm saying no, have worked additional.17 days unpaid overtime covering absences since Dec 2021 and I'm knackered and desperately need a break

Could take my laptop and work from holiday every day but then I think what's the point of going away

Its known absence so not a new thing and due to cost control we don't hire cover

Sounds like your employers might not be complying with the Working Time Regulations, which is a criminal offence...
savethatkitty01 · 10/04/2022 21:32

Do not cancel your holiday. Sick leave is not your problem (unless you are the boss).

Rights · 10/04/2022 21:46

17 unpaid days?! Why, OP? You’re being exploited, big time. Don’t even think about cancelling your holiday or taking your laptop along! Is looking for a new job a possibility?

Rosehugger · 10/04/2022 21:50

I'd rather let them try and sack me than miss a holiday. There are other jobs.