Page 13 | Want a holiday but 16 year old can’t get leave

Original poster

Irishmama100 · 18/05/2024 10:56

samarrange · 17/05/2024 21:45

If 16yo DD's presence is sufficiently strategic to this retail business that they can't miss her for 11 days, she should be getting paid about 4x what she's likely on. If she was something like head of UK logistics operations and wanted to take the first 24 days of December off, then the company might have a point. Otherwise they need to be more flexible with their rostering.

So I would be inclined to call their bluff. If they terminate her then DD will very likely walk into another job tomorrow (or perhaps after the holidays) and either way she will have learned some valuable lessons. Your first couple of years at work are like your first few months after you pass your driving licence, it's inevitable that there will be a few scratches and dents.

However... this may not be easy to sell to DD. Most of us here have some degree of hardened noses towards the employment relationship, but at 16 it can be difficult to be defiant of a form of authority, especially if DD is otherwise a diligent and respectful person.

I certainly would not recommend advising her to call in sick, partly because work presumably already knows her dates, and partly because it is not a good example to set.

Exactly this. Glad it is all sorted and that is didn't result in lying or quitting as per my just updated post.

OP posts:

Original poster

Irishmama100 · 18/05/2024 11:10

Hesma · 17/05/2024 07:36

Sadly that sounds like poor planning on your part. Everyone who is child free and all those with post exam kids want to holiday every summer before school break up. How did you not prepare for that?

Because I run two businesses it is difficult for me to gage when I can get the leave in and I needed to leave to last minute, and really never expected my 16 year old's job to impact. I will know for future though,

OP posts:

Original poster

Irishmama100 · 18/05/2024 11:15

Soigneur · 15/05/2024 15:22

Well, it seems that OP is rural so Uber won't exist and taxis are a PITA (have to book well in advance, cash only, have to ring around to find one available at the right time as they are all single operators etc)

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You are right - No Uber and a taxi there and back would mean they would pay more for the taxi than they would earn,

OP posts:

marmiteoneverything · 18/05/2024 12:03

Irishmama100 · 18/05/2024 10:51

Wow thanks for your responses everyone. I am delighted to stay that they approached the Manager again and stated that they would struggle to get to work if we are away - No public transport and obviously at 16 they do not drive. So they agreed to the leave. So holiday is booked.

When making the approach they did offer extra availability to cover for others over the summer months.

I have zero concerns about their work ethic or setting a bad example or that I am corrupting them to be a lazy entitled brat because they had the audacity to dare request time off well in advance. I am glad they had the balls to ask again.

Think this manager has real issue with granting leave, seems like a power trip and its like they are getting a "special favour" in getting leave. Wasn't ok two weeks ago but now it is all fine!.

I am so glad that 90% of people agreed that I was not being unreasonable.

I’m really pleased that the leave has been authorised and they can come on the holiday without needing to quit- that’s a great outcome!

I wouldn’t say that they have given plenty of notice for nearly 2 weeks off in what is presumably the summer holidays though, assuming they asked not long before you started the thread. When I had a year out of working in education after having DD the holiday booking system went ‘live’ in October or November of the year before and the school holidays booked up very quickly. That doesn’t mean the manager isn’t also on a power trip though!

Enjoy your holiday 🌴

lucindasspunkyfunkyvoice · 18/05/2024 17:53

💯 quit or call in sick

is the retail manager really inexperienced?

LifesTooShortForYourNonsense · 18/05/2024 17:55

I worked at Boots through college and uni - quit at the start of every summer and went back in the autumn, saved them retraining me 🤷‍♀️

shearwater2 · 18/05/2024 17:56

Thanks for coming back to update us, OP. So glad it's sorted now.

Snowflakeslayer · 18/05/2024 18:14

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

Just book for when everyone in the party is available. Isn’t that how it works. Never realised this was an actual tricky conundrum.

Oblomov24 · 18/05/2024 19:04

Glad manager agreed. Sounds like a very poor manager, if they needed to be asked twice!

slashlover · 18/05/2024 20:38

is the retail manager really inexperienced?

I can't believe everyone blaming the manager. If there are already some people on holiday then they can't run with no staff. Would everyone be fine with their local supermarket closing for an hour on a Saturday so staff can take lunches? Or queues as not enough people for the tills? Or a delivery not put out because there were not enough people?

BennyBee · 18/05/2024 21:11

The same thing happened with my son recently. I called the manager and said that there was a family emergency and he would not be able to attend work. This was half-true. The manager was really mean and seemed to think that it was up to my son to arrange his own shift cover (he had tried, and failed). Imho, a manager should manage the cover of shift workers and he did finally agree. I was amazed at the lack of flexibility but it all worked out ok.

Anyway, if it is just one shift your son is missing, I think he should just call in sick that day. If it is just this once and he doesn't make a habit of it, it will be fine.

swillie · 18/05/2024 21:45

I work in retail. I have done for over 20 years. I can't believe some of the comments on here! Your daughter is no different or more entitled to holiday than any other employee in her place of work. Just because she is 16 and on an 8 hour contract is irrelevant. She is a member of a team and her 8 hours is a day off for a full time employee.

Her taking a sickie is a delivery going out late, queues at the tills or trollies littering the car park. Other members of staff may have to stay later to cover because her being "sick" has a knock on effect throughout the store. Just because it's retail doesn't make her role less important.

I usually book my holiday early in the year as a lot of retail workers are women and want time off during half term and school holidays to spend time with their children.

Don't encourage your daughter to pull sickies because she booked her holiday late. You are setting a bad example.

NamingConundrum · 18/05/2024 23:29

slashlover · 18/05/2024 20:38

is the retail manager really inexperienced?

I can't believe everyone blaming the manager. If there are already some people on holiday then they can't run with no staff. Would everyone be fine with their local supermarket closing for an hour on a Saturday so staff can take lunches? Or queues as not enough people for the tills? Or a delivery not put out because there were not enough people?

No they can't, but they have people on really shitty contracts. Often minimal hours, no sick pay, a weeks notice either way, minimum wage. If they're so reliant maybe they should treat their staff better. As it is, OP daughter could hand in her notice a week before the trip, go, apply for her job back upon return or apply for any other similar job, of which usually plenty. She's given them plenty of notice, they can accept it or go through the cost and effort of hiring and training another member of staff and finding cover for far more shifts until they do so.

MrsDmitriTippensKrushnic · 19/05/2024 00:59

All this thread has done is cement the fact that I will never recruit 16 or 17 yo's again. It's not worth it. I have a tiny staffing budget whilst we're taking less money as a store and every contract counts. 16 and 17 yo's don't have enough independance - they will always have to go with their parents needs (which I completely understand) but I can't cope or run things around staff I can't rely on. It's not fair on the other people who end up covering for them.

Beansmom2983 · 19/05/2024 03:53

Some of you haven’t worked retail and it shows. The reason 16 yr old may have been denied leave, could be several things, ie; other people have booked it off and it will leave the team short (most people with kids book time off in holidays), or they, like my company, have black out periods in busy weeks where no one can book holiday, much like Christmas. Just because they’re 16 doesn’t mean they’re not a valued member of the team and some employers can’t budge if they’ve got a certain number who can be off at 1 time etc, so when people are saying ohh why can’t they just let them have it, ok you’d be saying that if you were on their team and knew it’d leave you with extra work? And if they quit yes the team would be short still but at least they’d know it’s not cos someone has buggered off on holiday while they’re all still there working. OP I’d probs let them quit myself, but depends how much they enjoy the job?

slashlover · 19/05/2024 06:32

NamingConundrum · 18/05/2024 23:29

No they can't, but they have people on really shitty contracts. Often minimal hours, no sick pay, a weeks notice either way, minimum wage. If they're so reliant maybe they should treat their staff better. As it is, OP daughter could hand in her notice a week before the trip, go, apply for her job back upon return or apply for any other similar job, of which usually plenty. She's given them plenty of notice, they can accept it or go through the cost and effort of hiring and training another member of staff and finding cover for far more shifts until they do so.

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I worked in supermarkets for years, all staff had permanent contracts with minimum hours, slightly above minimum wage, sick pay etc..

If it were me, then I'd let her go as it sets a precedent that anyone who is refused a holiday can just threaten to leave and get their own way. Although, i know very few supermarkets which employ 16 year olds as there's so many jobs they can't do.

Rottweilermummy · 19/05/2024 07:17

I think it's up to your 16yo if they want to stay with job though employer is being very unreasonable it all depends on the job, you can't get them to ring in sick especially if you planning to go abroad and what 16yo doesn't want to share their holiday experience not setting great example either. 16 is OK to leave at home if necessary is there anyone (family or friend) who could pop in keep an eye on them and be there for support if needed?
I had a 2 hour a morning cleaning job , put my holiday request form in and company declined it, I said I'm going and will quit if necessary told I can't. then was miraculously told I can go , as it was holiday was last with my late husband he died a week after we returned from the holiday 😢 Point being maybe if your 16 yo suggests quitting, company may back down, depends on job really

OldPerson · 19/05/2024 18:13

Why aren't you discussing it with child?

It sounds like it should be his/her first adult decision after weighing up the pros cons.

The child may really like job/ boss/ colleagues/ hours/ income.

The child may not want to quit work so soon and have a flimsy employment history.

The child may or may not be keen on your holiday choice.

Heidi75 · 20/05/2024 10:44

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?

Edited

As an employer and recruiter for over 30 years I can clarify that no employer is looking at or commenting on 'gaps' in employment for part time jobs kids did whilst still at school/college. Lots of employers employ 16/17 year olds as cheap labour and don't treat them that well. so I wouldn't think twice, if he wants to come on the family holiday then quit and get another p/t job on return

Goodtogossip · 20/05/2024 11:26

I'm sure your child is due a migraine that week! Seriously though, I'd ask your child what they'd like to do & see what they suggest. It's unreasonable of the employer to refuse considering they only work 8 hours each week. Can you call their Boss explaining its a special occasion & you'd really like your child to attend. At 16 they're still technically a child so you'd be well within you right to speak with the Boss yourself.

Shiresunshine · 20/05/2024 15:48

I wouldn’t advise your child quit their job, it’s very good for young people to work etc…

Instead I would be getting a sick line for 3 weeks to cover the holiday and some time to let any sun tans fade! 😂

Ponderingwindow · 14/09/2024 22:35

My teenager has an exceptionally good part-time job. It pays better and is easier work than anything else she could hope to get. There are only a few days a year that she absolutely can’t miss. I would never jeopardize her job for anything.

if she had a standard teen retail gig, I would tell her to just go on holiday and let them fire her if they must.