Confusion re annual leave

[Clubtropicanadrinksarenotfree]

I've been in a new role for around 6 weeks. I still don't have a contract and I'm planning to hand in my notice next month but that's another story.

I booked off 2 days for this week, around 3 weeks ago. There's a lady who does both a HR and finance role. I filled in my form and she asked me to give it to her, then she told me it was approved and that I could file it.

I have 2 different managers, I told one of them last week that I had requested this time off and he hadn't been aware but said ok that's fine.

Anyway today I've been off work sick as I seem to have some sort of bug, and I'm supposed to be going away for a night tomorrow, so not great timing.

The other manager asked if I would be coming back in tomorrow. I told her that I was still ill but that in any case I had 2 days annual leave book, that had been approved by HR.
I think I had thought she was aware as the HR and other manager knew, but it seems that this hadn't been communicated to her.

Anyway I apologised for not having communicated it to her as well. She then told me that this HR lady isn't the person that approves holidays, even though she had told me 'I've approved your holiday' and she had circled approved on the sheet.

Not really sure what's going on it just seems like it's poorly organised. I think it's in part my fault too, but I don't get their system really

Sounds like you get approval from the line manager then submit the form to the lady. But it should have been made clear to you what the process is

I can’t imagine any company that would have a random person in HR sign off annual leave instead of their manager.

I also don’t know why you wouldn’t have mentioned it to your managers first anyway.
Its done now and you know for future.

If you're ill, you shouldn't have to use your AL days anyway.

Yes you're probably right.. I've got an employee handbook, just had a look at it but no mention of the policy, just says they can't allocate holidays in X month

Yes I should have done, I think I just thought I'd submit the form and then the managers would approve it first, rather than her telling me herself that it's approved

You need to check your contract about using sick leave in conjunction with annual leave; there can be quite specific rules about this.

I don't have a contract sadly, but I'm planning to quit soon so I won't bother asking for one now

It is good practice to ask for the contract anyway, because if there are any disputes after you resign, e.g. treatment of unused annual leaves or notice period, then you have something in black and white.

Yeah phone in sick and don't use the holiday

I don't get sick pay I don't think as I'm hourly paid :/