(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?!

Being a parent is not a protected characteristic.

If OP having 2 days off a week means others can’t take leave then that’s a reasonable reason to decline it.

The employer is not responsible for accommodating childcare needs. Many will, but they are not legally obliged to in any way.

We wouldn't allow it. Childcare is for working parents to use. Usually loads holiday clubs around

Again, your employer cannot dictate how you use your annual leave.

And OPs employer is skirting sex discrimination.

They absolutely can dictate when you use your annual leave.

Indirect sex discrimination would be a reach here.

It’s not that the OP wants to use leave, it’s the impact it has on others if she uses it in this way. If she wants to push it, she can raise a grievance but that’s unlikely to be concluded by the end of the summer holidays.

Your employer cannot dictate what you do on your annual leave days, but they can absolutely dictate when you take them.

I suppose it depends on your type of business and team set up.

I did have an agreement with a previous employer that worked well for years - I worked regular extra hours in term time that I could take as time in lieu during school holidays. It worked fine as holidays tended to be quieter anyway, and jobs were assigned to individuals rather than teams so it didn't effect anyone else. As they knew the situation well in advance work could be assigned appropriately.

In my current role I'm having two weeks running of working half a week during the school holidays this year. I work completely alone and can plan my own workload, so know it won't be an issue. If it affected when my colleagues could take time off then I would reconsider