To book a holiday before telling work?

[Buddythecat1]

Moot point as it is already booked.
Manager over heard me telling another colleague that I'd booked a family holiday and was told in no uncertain terms that I must request the time from work before ever booking something.

A bit taken abback because I've never heard of this and it's not in my contract either.

The holiday in question is 16 months away 😂 is my manager in the correct?

If that's because when the online system opens I just emailed and said I couldn't book online as system not open but I wanted to take holiday on x date could they approve.

I dunno, it's just what the manager told me
To let her know the dates in April

This is pretty standard for most employers and will be in the companies annual leave policy.

Nobody’s contract is going to say that you need to ask your manager for leave before you make a hotel / flight booking. Most people have the good sense to though.

I think to keep on managers good books I’d apologise and say as it’s so far in advance and can’t request leave until April 2024 how should you have gone about it ?

She told me to make sure I request the time off first, the next time
But I can't request it until April
Wouldn't leave many months to pay up a holiday etc 🤷‍♀️

As a manager I find it frustrating when people book before requesting the time off. If someone else is off too it leaves me with staffing issues. I will be as accommodating as I can be but it's really hard when people just book off and then tell me.

As a manager I find it frustrating when people book before requesting the time off. If someone else is off too it leaves me with staffing issues. I will be as accommodating as I can be but it's really hard when people just book off and then tell me.
Genuine question- if people book mostly on cost and well in advance how can they actually ask you, would there not be tons of twoing and froing? Because you look at flights and accommodation and then tell your manager the following day and then the prices have gone up and you have to go on the search again!

Well, if it's 16 months away surely you'd get the holiday? If not you would had time to make minor adjustments to the dates.

I suppose it depends on your job. Does someone have to actually cover it for you or do they leave it to pile up till youre back? I never ask in advance, all my managers have been totally reasonable, even now as a manager its up to people to use their hols as and when they want. Sometimes i think certain people use that control as a power move. But i'd totally understand if say youre a teacher, nurse etc where they need sufficient staff in

I’m a manager and always ask people to get their annual leave approved before booking holiday. Think that’s fairly standard to be honest. It’s necessary to manage team capacity.

I can only have a percentage of staff off at the same time so do decline requests sometimes. And I do get fed up when people then moan as they all know the rules that I am bound by and I encourage people to book way ahead and approve requests as soon as they come in.

Ive just booked my own annual leave for July 2024 and got it approved before we went ahead and booked a holiday.

It totally depends. Nowhere I've worked has this ever been a problem. In fact, I'm not sure if I've actually booked my August leave in the system. But we all manage our own workloads, doesn't matter if multiple members of team are on holiday at the same time and can all work remotely so if the shit really hit the fan, could dial in from wherever we are on holiday. Other workplaces will differ.

That's what I'm hoping
It's during the October school holidays and nobody else who works there has children so I'm hoping it isn't a popular week

And for someone saying I don't know who will be off, it's not even bookable yet! I'm hoping if I get in first as soon as I'm able to, it wouldn't be a problem hence why I didn't ask

Nowhere in the annual leave policy does it say about not booking something before asking
Just says to give a week's notice

October 2024 could have some event that you don't know about yet. School holidays should not be assumed to be times only those with children want as leave. I am going to ask for time off during the February half term in 2024 to go to an event, and I don't have school age children.

Of course it shouldn't but I just thought I'd add that in before other people assumed I was selfish for booking off a popular week

Honestly I've never ever worked somewhere that you've had to request leave before booking anything and I've had various different jobs

Just ignore that "manager".

Its none of his business and he needs to stay out ot it. Period.

Not sure if this is sarcasm or not lol
Very new manager who hasn't long stepped in to the role
The same manager that told me I will be searched to make sure I don't have my phone on me

Unless you "manage" medical professionals this is laughable.

You are a simple people manager.

Your role does not revolve around life or death decisions.

Until it does, be quiet and stop trying to take on a bizarre air of importance.

No normal professional job will be impacted by people not being there for a few weeks.

Its more of a general discussion. "I'm thinking of booking to go away in June 2024" "that's ace, can you avoid the first week as X always takes that week ? "

"I have a big birthday and want to be off "
"Sure I will make a note that you want that off"

I see.

One of those then.

I would smile and ignore them then.

I work 2 jobs and yes , both have to approve . One job no more than 3 off at any one time ( there's about 30 members of staff ) and put in for approval 1st april for that calender year

The other job no more than 2 members of staff off at once and there are 5 of us no less than 6 weeks notice for approval
I've been turned Down holiday requests on both jobs before

I think it depends a bit on the nature of your workplace. I manage my own diary completely so it would be highly unlikely my leave wouldn't be approved. My dh works in a small team so they have to book leave well in advance. Your manager is right in what they're saying. You are entitled to x amount of leave but not entitled to dictate when the leave is taken. If it's a big holiday (which I'd assume it is given its booked so far in advance) your manager is probably thinking of you and encouraging you to get it booked in so your leave for those dates is protected. Best practice is always to book the leave then the hol.

As the holiday is booked I would cover myself by emailing my manager and copying in anyone relevant to state that I will be booking leave on X date.

Then you protect yourself from losing your holiday if someone else books in the same week the second the leave calendar opens. Or there being an announcement that the dates need to be kept free for a big staff meeting or whatever.

Even if it's not life or death that certain staff levels need to be in place, many places will restrict the numbers of people who can be off at any particular time, so you need to make sure you've formally stated your intention to book leave in case of problems later.

By that logic, they would be able to deny you leave.

Any "leave" would necessitate "permission"

But you are 100% entitled to statutory holiday and nobody can deny this to you. Not even your manager.

I will never, ever understand why people give so much power to others for no reason.

Telling your manager is simply you being polite.

That manager can concoct whatever story they want in their head but at the end of the day your rights for holiday leave legally supercede any ability he has to "block" it.

In financial services, we all have to take a minimum 2 week holiday for risk & compliance reasons.