Manager wants the same time off as me for annual leave - AIBU?

[hhgvbg]

I requested to book off a week early next year last month. It got approved by the head of my team, and has been put on our formal annual leave system and on the department's calendars.

My manager has now requested the same time off, and says that nobody is off on those days even though I am, I'm not sure why they can't see I'm off either it's not showing properly in the system or he hasn't checked properly. We're not allowed to have time off at the same time due to capacity.

I know I need to message my manager but I'm not sure what to say without sounding rude. I have booked a holiday for these dates specifically, gave a lot of notice and got the time approved.

Another one who really doesn't see what the problem is or what you could possibly be U about?

The only way you'd be U is to not respond to his message as, if that's the established process you should follow it, and it would be reasonable of manager to be annoyed if you didn't respond so he assumed he could book it, only to be rejected or cause an issue later on.

Presumably if managers message is something like "hi I'm thinking of booking x to y off, just checking nobody else has already booked those days." Just reply "yeah sorry I booked them last month."
Don't go into any "are they not showing on the calendar" faff -they are showing for you, the team leader knows they've signed them off for you. Your leave is sorted, so send a very quick email and forget about it.

Why's everyone saying he's trying to pull a fast one?

He's just following the normal routine of emailing the team to see if anyone has booked leave before he submits it on the system.

OP - bizarre that you wouldn't just reply, "Hi John, I've already booked annual leave that week"

What they all said.

Don't overthink, just send, sorry I've already got those dates in system booked off. If he then questions went he cant see it or the approval you can reply with more details.

Is there a back story here? Are you afraid of your manager?

Also, if it is normal practice to email the team to check your time off, then you'd have sent out an email a month ago to the team before booking the time off. So he'll have your email. Refer him back to it if you want.

This really isnt an issue.

Yes what everyone else said- it's not a big deal. Just politely point out you booked that week a while ago.

Do you have a bad relationship generally?

Just tell your boss he may have made a mistake and could he recheck as you are off. My manager has tried similar a few times for Christmas leave so I now book mine the first week of January but still he tries to be cheeky...

Well clearly he's one of those managers who has NOT bothered to look. I see this all the time in my work. An email comes round asking 5 questions, 4 of which were already answered if the person had bothered to read the email or relevant document.

So just email back, "Those dates are already booked for my holiday to Spain so I won't be in that week" and leave it at that.

Yes I wondered this. Surely the OPs boss will already know about the holiday request.

Is your manager a bully towards you op. If you are too scared to tell him you have booked those dates off, then the issue is greater than double booking annual leave. I suggest you go to HR and get them to have a word with him to stop the bullying immediately.
You should not be this worried about approaching your boss.

Sorry OP but are you being serious? How do you get anything done at work if you can’t even tell your manager “I have those dates booked off already”

Dear manager
I've already booked this time off and it's been approved.
Job done

"Hi manager, I've got those dates off already, snapshot below of the system approval. This was approved back in May."

Sounds like it’s quite a common thing to do and it’s not a case of pulling a fast one.

I’d just drop them a quick message to say ‘hi just to let you know I’ve already booked and had those dates approved’.

In our team we also organise our holiday like this. If someone wants a period off that is already booked we just remind them that it’s already booked. Manager included. I don’t recall anyone ever being upset. If they need the annual leave as-well then they go and take their request to a senior person/ HR. Don’t over think it.

The procedure is that you have to check in with the team when booking. Your manager has and seems to have misread the records. Simple - you do is reply along the lines of - Hi Pete, are you looking at the right month? I've had x - x booked since July for my holiday to Spain.

And the longer you leave this the worse it will be because your manager will think it's fine.

Dear Manager,

Received your email regarding intention to book leave for xx dates. Just wanted to remind you I requested, and had approved back in yy, leave that includes those dates. Please see screenshots of approval notification and leave showing on database.

Hope you can rearrange your plans,

This is real life!

And the longer you leave this the worse it will be because your manager will think it's fine.

I agree.

I would have replied straight away.

Sorry I've booked x-y off last month and am unable to change the date.

Before any cheeky fucker requests to move are made!

Facts are not rude.

Hi Manager, just flagging that have already I requested holiday for dates {whatever} and they were approved by {name} on date {whatever}.

What manager does next is up to them.

Although perhaps rearrenge 'have already I' to read 'I have already' unless you actually are Yoda.

This sounds like a total non event to me - why the drama?