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Original poster

Want a holiday but 16 year old can’t get leave

322 replies

Irishmama100 · 13/05/2024 20:21

So my 16 year old has a retail job, 8 hour contract and has been refused leave for when we went to go on our summer holiday. Can’t leave them at home on their for 11 nights

1)I am unreasonable - I should just scrap the idea and no one in the family gets a holiday.
2) I am not being unreasonable - I Should just book it anyway and they can quit and get another job

OP posts:
CandiedPrincess · 13/05/2024 20:22

Book, quit, find another job.

MyOtherHusbandIsAWash · 13/05/2024 20:22

Why can’t you just book it when they can have leave? Not voted as I don’t think either option is any good.

Smartiepants79 · 13/05/2024 20:23

How easy would another job be?
It seems a bit ridiculous that they can’t do without the 16 year old on an 8 hour contract for one week.
I wouldn’t normally advocate such things but I’d be calling my child in sick for that week and tell them not to brag about their holiday when they get back.

StampOnTheGround · 13/05/2024 20:24

For an 8 hour contract and them only being 16, their employer is being a dick - they're hardly not going to cope for those 8 hours. I'd think that's a sign for them to quit and get a part time job elsewhere!

Clearinguptheclutter · 13/05/2024 20:24

What does the 16 year old think?

ideally you’d have booked it before the job started but that ship has sailed

is it an option to not be granted normal leave but get unpaid leave instead. Presumably there would be others around to cover?

crumbpet · 13/05/2024 20:24

Does the 16 year old want to quit? It's their job. I don't think it's a good message to send that someone else should have an influence over your job. Would you quit your job?

Onehappymam · 13/05/2024 20:26

For an 8 hour contract? At 16? I’d bin it and get something else. I worked like a slave from the age of 14 and never broke any rules - didn’t phone on sick, turned up if I was refused leave, covered for other people when they didn’t turn up… I got no thanks for it and looking back there are so many special events that I missed. If I had my time again, I’d have left.

He could hand in his notice? Then take a break and look for something else? My friend’s son did this to have the whole month of December off and then ended up back working for his original employer!

SummerFeverVenice · 13/05/2024 20:26

I can’t vote, as it isn’t your decision. It’s up to the 16yo if they want a gap in their CV and to have to explain they quit their prior job because they wanted to go on holiday.

If your 16yo is going to Uni or college for technical qualifications, it’s not a big deal, but if they are planning on going straight into FT work at 18, it might mean more to them for their future prospects.

Also, has your 16yo asked when they could take leave? So you could see if you can book then instead of when you want to?

cansu · 13/05/2024 20:27

Depends on your child's view. If they don't want to quit their job then I would assume they could stay with a friend or family member for at least part of the trip.

Eggmoobean · 13/05/2024 20:27

Quit. It’s nonsense. They are being ridiculous to not approve leave for 8. Hours.

TheTicklishPoster · 13/05/2024 20:28

Depends on how much you want the holiday on that specific date, if your child wants to quit the job and if not how easy finding a new job would be. This is interesting to me because at 16 your child is not an adult, so do they really have a say legally/regarding work if parents say they must go?

backaftera2yearbreak · 13/05/2024 20:29

Tell 16 year old to tell them they will be going one way or another.

watch them change their mind.

x2boys · 13/05/2024 20:30

I think my teen might be " sick " on that day...

CommeIlFaut · 13/05/2024 20:32

’A gap in their CV’ 😆 It’s a holiday job at the Co-Op, not head of MI6.

Either she can have a nasty migraine that week, or (probably fairer) she can quit and pick up another of the multitude of shop, restaurant or other jobs 16 year olds do to earn a bit of cash. Whatever you do, don’t sacrifice what could be one of your last holidays with her (she might well be heading off interrailing with mates or doing Camp America in a couple of years time.)

meganorks · 13/05/2024 20:34

Have the definitely refused? Or is the 16 year old thinking they might get the house to themselves for a week or so....

Seems ridiculous to miss a holiday over that, so I'd go with the quit option

Bambinomino · 13/05/2024 20:34

Book it, teen has D&V.

AllAtSeaAgain · 13/05/2024 20:34

I'd be contacting work to tell them that we have a family holiday booked for these dates and that the teen will not be available for work.

It's not up for discussion. They are complete idiots to think that a 16 yo with an 8 hour a week job has to apply for 'leave'. They either keep them on after the family holiday or the teen can find somewhere else to work.

Jegersur · 13/05/2024 20:34

Can they not swap a shift with someone?

bringmorewashing · 13/05/2024 20:35

What does the teen want? I'd be telling them it's fine if they want to quit and get another job. Some of these employers have crazy expectations of young people on minimum wage.

Imnoonesfool · 13/05/2024 20:38

This happened with my son last year when he was 16, also retail but on a 12 hour contract. They refused despite it being requested well in advance. Apparently they have a procedure where you have to request all of your years holiday at the beginning of the year otherwise they allocate it for you. I advised him to wait until the month before we were due to go and resign giving his required 2 weeks notice. He did, they asked why he was resigning, he said it was because he was unable to get the time off to go on his family holiday. The next day his store manager confirmed he could have the holiday and could he please withdraw his resignation which he did. He was pleased because he likes working there but he was prepared to leave if necessary.

SummerFeverVenice · 13/05/2024 20:49

CommeIlFaut · 13/05/2024 20:32

’A gap in their CV’ 😆 It’s a holiday job at the Co-Op, not head of MI6.

Either she can have a nasty migraine that week, or (probably fairer) she can quit and pick up another of the multitude of shop, restaurant or other jobs 16 year olds do to earn a bit of cash. Whatever you do, don’t sacrifice what could be one of your last holidays with her (she might well be heading off interrailing with mates or doing Camp America in a couple of years time.)

Retail can be a decent career with many working their way up from shop floor to regional manager.

There aren’t that many jobs out there. Why do you think there are so many low hour contracts? Even Uni students are having trouble finding these PT jobs.

WhatFlavourIsIt · 13/05/2024 20:49

What does the 16-year-old want to do
& What's the reason they can't stay home by themselves if they wanted to?

Motheranddaughter · 13/05/2024 20:51

Totally up to your child

SummerFeverVenice · 13/05/2024 20:51

i agree a 16yo can be home instead of on holiday if they prefer.

somewhereovertherain · 13/05/2024 20:53

Why can’t they stay at home?