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?

My manager operates a strict 1 person on annual leave at a time policy in the name off 'minimum staffing levels'.

He's end up creating more problems than he solves. People have booked their holiday anyway and resign with notice period to coincide with the hol date.

Then manager has to recruit, wait for new person to be able to start, then training time equals 3 months staff shortage as opposed to allowing 1 additional person on hol for 2 weeks 😂

I've always booked a holiday and then booked off my annual leave - never the other way round. That's been for if it's a few months away too, never mind the massive 16 months you're saying! 😊

Yes, this exactly. Common sense as well as awareness of others! How would it work if everyone just assumed they could take leave when it suited them?!

Your employer can deny a holiday request. This doesn’t need to be set out in your contract or the company policies.

Alway refer to Acas with employment questions: https://www.acas.org.uk/checking-holiday-entitlement/asking-for-and-taking-holiday

It’s very far away, so it’s not unreasonable for them to say they can’t confirm resourcing needs at that time. Your manager is being pernickety though and should be reasonable in giving you priority for that particular period.

I had the exact conversation with my team earlier “check the team leave calendar before booking holidays, there are a number of weeks in July and August that are already full”.

Believe me, I get all that but I wasn't requesting it
I was speaking to another colleague about the family holiday I'd booked and she piped in with "you cannot book any holidays again before approaching work and making sure we've given it the ok"
I then tried to offer her the dates she stuck her fingers in her ears and said tell her in April 🤷‍♀️

It’s normal practice to ask first. Not sure how your holiday is done but ours is seniority, and if the same grade length of time at that grade. First two weeks done, then next week, then 4th week. Only two off so you don’t book a holiday without agreeing it at work, however far away it is

@Buddythecat1 You are technically correct that you can book holidays without asking your manager first.

Your application for leave for those dates may or may not be approved.

Is this manager the one who decides if an application for leave is approved or not?

Because if they are, they might be capable of denying you leave for those dates just to make a point.

Probably best not to argue with your manager over a technicality.