(Work related) for wanting to use my AL for childcare?

[OneGlamMama]

I am a single mum.

I put in my annual leave request for the summer holidays around a month ago to my new manager who had started two weeks prior.

He told me he would look into and get back to me.
I had requested for Monday to Wednesday off each week for the five week holiday. (Ten days of holiday to use as I have Mondays off anyway)
This was denied last week.

I compromised and said I would take Monday and Tuesday off each week instead. Also denied.

I then followed up with how about I use two half days on Tuesday and Wednesday. Also denied.

I asked why and was told that we are thin on the ground, my role is too important to lose me this much in a week, that childcare wasn't a good enough reason for AL, that I could take a week off but not one day each week, etc.

I've been told to put in a flexi working request for a temporary change of five weeks!

AIBU to lose my cool with this?!

I can see that causing problems in a small team. It breaks into every week. Not sure a problem in a big team. I know dh and my work say no (different work places). You having children doesn't mean you get holiday time off no one else. You are Abit late asking though. School holidays have in some places already started or starting next week.

I effectively go part time and flexible over the summer (like sometimes I work evenings etc) and I make sure it doesn't impact anyone else. Feeling very grateful for my job just now

I am taking 1 or 2 days off each week over summer for childcare. It doesn't mean that others in the office can't take a week off etc.

It depends on the nature of the work though. My work is also fine with this but not all workplaces will function like this.

I've worked at places that would probably allow this, and places who would definitely have rejected it.

It sounds like you are in a place who us going to say no, so can you find another way round?
What is it about a shorter week you want? Can you book 2x 1 week holidays, both Wednesday - Wednesday. So you ask for date 24-31 July - constant one weeks leave, but that gives you 2 half weeks at work. Do the same later in August, and that's 4 half weeks across the summer.

Have you even asked? There's rules. They can suggest alternative dates but they can't flat out refuse

It would cause issues in my office. We can only have 2 people off at a time. By OP booking part of the week each week it basically means only one person can have a week off at a time during that period so its going to cause issues with when are the other people going to take their time off

Wouldn’t happen at ours (NHS ward) as you would be taking every week depending on which team you are in it would restrict how many if any could have time off the same weeks.

Eg only one admin staff off at a time and that would mean the colleagues could only take the end of the weeks when they would want full weeks off. You would be allowed to do it for two weeks so that everyone gets time off in 6 weeks hols if needed.

Don't play the single parent card unless it's genuinely needed.

"The limit on how much parental leave each parent can take in a year is 4 weeks for each child (unless the employer agrees otherwise)."

Leave OP, you have a right to time off.
Your request was not unreasonable.
If/when you burn out they will need to cope..
They can cope now.

When I read you post I thought yes yabu.
It would mean that only one other person could take annual leave during those weeks where I work. The boss would not allow that as it is too restrictive on everyone else.
However if your holidays only impact other managers in your team and they gave not requested those dates then I see less if a problem.
Where I work nobody is allowed 5 consecutive weeks off under any circumstances. 2 is the maximum, 3 would need prior approval and the entire team can object for example if it impacts on them taking annual leave.

I had something vaguely similar when I came back off mat leave. I was returning on 3 days a week, our original chosen nursery was closed down, the only other one happy with could only offer 2 days a week, so my husband and I wanted to take alternate Wednesdays off as AL for childcare. This was denied as apparently AL is meant for 'recharging your batteries' not for childcare. After a long drawn out discussion where I threatened to resign, it was agreed but only for 4 months to give me time to source alternative childcare for the 3rd day.

Do you have any leverage, any specialist skills where they couldnt afford to lose you?

I hear you, I'm in the same boat, holiday wise. It's so hard.

I've taken one week at the beginning of the hols and 2 at the end. Who knows what I'll do in between.

Would your line of work be suitable for working from home? More flexible hours?

For now I'd book a couple of weeks in 2 chunks before someone else takes them.

I'm the only one with kids in my area, however I don't take priority, which I absolutely agree with. Everyone should be entitled to take holidays in the summer, but most of my team are understanding.

Has this ever been allowed before? Or are there other similar examples? If there are you can cite this but you’ll have to go over manager’s head to HR.

also work don’t have to grant you annual leave when you want it so just to manage expectations. It’s weird your manager wants you to do a flex just for 5 week? So then they would let you be off but losing pay? That suggests they have a problem and are being vindictive as they accommodate your being off.

get that in writing and go to hr. Either you’re so precious you can’t be off or you can? So should have leave granted.

This is very tough but it is quite late in the day to be requesting it- what do you do the rest of the year? You haven’t given them much time to make sure things are covered etc

you’ve effectively asked to half your working days from 4 to 2.

our regular childminder is on holiday and my husband and I got mixed up on dates which meant no childcare for 2 weeks this summer.
it was too late for my husband to change his leave when we realised so we’ve just had to get on with it.

I’ve managed to find another childminder but she can only cover 3 days a week.

so I’ve booked a couple of weds and Fridays off. I did this back in April when I realised we had an issue. If it had been declined it would have given me more time to sort something. As above, my husband had already been told in April that it was too late to change his leave. Most people book holidays months in advance.

I also didn’t tell my employer it was due to childcare- I just booked them.

is there a local childminder who can cover a couple of weeks for you, and you book two full weeks to cover the rest? You’d be using same amount of days but it wouldn’t impact the business as much.

This would be totally fine in my workplace; nobody would bat an eye.

It really depends on the workplace and nature of your work.
Where I work this would be fine but our workplace is very quiet in August (university) and there'd always be someone to cover my work.
I can imagine in a different workplace your suggestion might cause problems.

You mentioned that they’ve suggested you put in a flexi working request OP, could this work for you?

Sounds like it means (if they grant it) the outcome would be the same in terms of days off, though presumably unpaid?

This. I’d probably get this accepted at my work but I’d get it in early as in January. You are cutting it a bit fine only requesting it now.

But you have to take your holidays at some point, when are they saying would be ok for them to be without you?

Call working family UK helpline and ACAS, seek advice and go back to your employer with ‘official’ guidelines and mention discrimination. Your AL is yours, the reason is none of their business.

The issue isn't the reason for the a/l and they're not stopping OP from taking annual leave, they just can't give her the days requested which is usual for many work places. Imagine if they gave everyone what they asked which meant everyone was off on the same days?

@NerrSnerr I’m suggesting getting advice for the flex working request as OP has been advised to do. If they can suggest and possibly grant flex working then why not AL? I’d get advice, that’s the point of helplines.

It is discrimination against parents to say childcare isn’t a good enough reason for AL. Would they tell a non parent that taking time to care for a relative isn’t good an enough reason for AL? Your reasons for AL are not for your employer to make comment on, especially if they’re declining it. ‘It doesn’t work for the business’ should be it.

edited for typo

If my employee came in with a fake sick note for 5 weeks of summer holidays they would be sacked.