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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

See all MNHQ comments on this thread

Original poster

Got "told off"- annual leave for teachers strike

283 replies

Skyblue81 · 20/03/2023 10:31

Feeling confused. AIBU??

Got 3 kids. Teachers were on strike last Weds & Thurs. School said it would remain open, but changed their minds Weds morning.

I worked from home on Weds with all 3 kids at home. It was exhausting, so I then put in for 2 days annual leave for Thursday (teachers strike) and Friday (to recover from my exhaustion).

Got back to work today to an HR call where I basically got told off for submitting and then taking leave!!!!! Yes OK I didn't give loads of notice, but then neither did my school.

Feeling really beaten-down by my workplace. I work hard, and have earned that annual leave. I took it to take care of my children, then have a recovery day. FFS it's not like I went on a bender to Ibiza!

AIBU???

OP posts:
ArdeteiMasazxu · 20/03/2023 10:36

Wednesday and Thursday should have been emergency dependents leave (unpaid but you have a right to it) as you didn't know till Wednesday morning you would need it. it is unreasonable to WFH while doing childcare.

friday was a legitimate annual leave situation but you could have booked that on Wednesday to give 2 days notice.

it sounds like from your OP that you made the bookings on an online system and didn't speak to anyone about the unusual circumstances. is that right?

Isyesterdaytomorrowtoday · 20/03/2023 10:36

Was the leave approved before you took it? Did you discuss with your line manager?

Sirzy · 20/03/2023 10:37

Did someone actually approve the holidays or did you just submit it then assume it was given ?

NoSquirrels · 20/03/2023 10:41

Surely depends on whether your manager approved the leave, and what the policies in your workplace are around booking leave.

WindUpPenguin · 20/03/2023 10:42

Is there a policy which states how much notice you need to give of annual leave? Does it need to be signed off? Was it signed off?

BlueSeaWave · 20/03/2023 10:44

It depends if the leave was approved before you took it or you just didn’t show up?

Hellocatshome · 20/03/2023 10:44

Is there a policy about giving notice of annual leave? Did it have to be approved and was it?

If it was a system where you can book annual leave if it is available and it is automatically approved then they haven't got a right to tell you off for using it that way.

Blinkingheckythump · 20/03/2023 10:46

This is a ridiculous question. Whether you are being unreasonable depends entirely upon your AL policy. I don't think HR gives a monkey's what you used it for. It's about whether or not you booked it via the correct process. Most employers will require 2 weeks notice as a minimum of AL. If you're employer requires no notice then no yanbu. If they do then you are. Especially for Friday.

EmmaEmerald · 20/03/2023 10:46

I'm confused
if your senior agreed the leave, or you had no issues getting work covered or catching up, what's the issue?

Original poster
Skyblue81 · 20/03/2023 10:48

Thanks all. Yes I told my line manager. Yes I logged the request on the HR system. Yes it was approved before I took it.

That's why I'm pretty pissed off to return to work today and be chastised for it! Just feeling really deflated as I feel like you're damned if you do, and damned if you don't. It's so hard trying to work when you have family commitments :(

OP posts:
ChickenDhansak82 · 20/03/2023 10:49

YABU.
It was annoying that the school shut at the last minute, but that's the whole point of strikes - it's inconvenient.

You need to give more than 20 hours notice to take holiday. Although you worked from home on the Wednesday, you should have contacted HR and requested emergency dependent leave for the Thursday.

I don't see why you needed Friday off as you had holiday Thursday and surely looking after your own kids doesn't need a day to recover?!

ProbablyDogNappersHunX · 20/03/2023 10:51

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NoSquirrels · 20/03/2023 10:51

Presumably you just told HR that there seems to have been a misunderstanding because your line manager had approved the leave? What reason were they giving for calling you, specifically?

Chocolatetadpole · 20/03/2023 10:52

You're definitely not being unreasonable as it was authorised. If it were an issue your line manager could have agreed the Thurs but declined the Friday.

Codlingmoths · 20/03/2023 10:56

Personally I’d take my children into work the next day , find the person who told them off, tell my darlings James/ina is looking after them today, sit at an adjacent desk and do my work. Even if I had to keep them out of school!

Hellocatshome · 20/03/2023 10:57

You need to give more than 20 hours notice to take holiday

You might need to do where you work it is not the same everywhere. I used to work somewhere you could come in in the morning check the system and if there was annual leave available for that day book it and go home again.

If OP booked the annual leave in line with her workplaces policy they then cant tell her off about it.

BernadetteRostankowskiWolowitz · 20/03/2023 10:58

So you are being scolded for taking leave that had been approved?

When do hr even get involved it stuff like this??

NatMoz · 20/03/2023 11:01

This reply has been deleted

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How is this comment remotely helpful. Stop being so antagonistic. So unnecessary! Someone got out of the wrong side of the bed this morning!!!

MrsDoylesDoily · 20/03/2023 11:01

I wouldn't worry in your position because obviously I'd be telling HR they're speaking to the wrong person Confused

I assume you told them they need to take it up with your line manager?

justpoppingtotheshops · 20/03/2023 11:10

Your title is misleading - you didn't just take annual leave for the teachers strike you took another one off for "exhaustion" 😳 are you in the middle of a big project or something where had you submitted a request at any other time it would have been refused? to be honest whilst I wouldn't have rung you about it afterwards I'd be a bit bemused why you needed the Friday off to "recover" - how many children do you have??

Datgal · 20/03/2023 11:15

It doesn't matter why she took the days off though does it?? If it was approved, which it was. OP didn't need to give a reason. If they were unhappy about it, or thought they would be, it shouldn't have been approved in the first place.
I had a holiday day and just sat on my arse doing fuck all. It was great! 👍🏼

Original poster
Skyblue81 · 20/03/2023 11:18

Thanks all for your responses. Exhausted because I work 2 jobs, have 3 young children and am essentially a solo parent as my OH works away. Surely any parent of young children knows how exhausting it can get at times??

Really disappointed to have come on here looking for support, only for people to respond with sarcasm and unkind comments. Hope your comments made you feel big and clever.

OP posts:
CountZacular · 20/03/2023 11:18

justpoppingtotheshops · 20/03/2023 11:10

Your title is misleading - you didn't just take annual leave for the teachers strike you took another one off for "exhaustion" 😳 are you in the middle of a big project or something where had you submitted a request at any other time it would have been refused? to be honest whilst I wouldn't have rung you about it afterwards I'd be a bit bemused why you needed the Friday off to "recover" - how many children do you have??

It is completely irrelevant the reason why. OP asked. Manager approved. She added to the system and took the days off.

HR need to direct their ire at the manager who approved it.

Original poster
Skyblue81 · 20/03/2023 11:19

Thankyou to those who responded with helpful comments and kindness. I just needed some support on a difficult Monday morning.

OP posts:
Weatherwax134 · 20/03/2023 11:19

I really feel for you- I'm a teacher and wasn't striking. However, my daughter's primary (which had said they were staying open) suddenly decided to close on the Tuesday night. I told work I now would be off on Wednesday, and was told it would need to be unpaid because "we all had lots of notice about the teacher strikes". I'm appealing the decision but I don't think it will be approved.