Never allowed to take leave on a Friday

[Rorous]

There are 4 people in my team and one of whom doesn’t work Fridays. For this reason I am never allowed to take a Friday as annual leave and I find it absurd. Even when I request a week off I am being asked to work on a Friday! I’m wondering whether I am being unreasonable and should just simmer down, or kick up a fuss with my line manager… advice please?

Just to add, there are no meetings/pieces of work planned for these days. I’m just there “in case something happens” and I have never been called upon for anything urgent in my 3 years of working here.

It's totally ridiculous, and a good way to lose employees.

I bet your manager takes annual leave on a Friday. Escalate again op. What if you want to go abroad?

I would not work there, tbh

You should be able to have Friday/s off for annual holiday etc. Can they not train a colleague to cover that work? Or the person who normally has Fridays off still cover a certain number of Fridays per year for holiday?
Sounds as though you have terrible management - not uncommon sadly.

I hope HR helps. It is really awful you can't get a Friday off.

I think this will become more of a problem as people want to work compressed hours and flexibility.
It makes holiday rotas really difficult.

@DPotter yes, I used to work at a finance
company and they made some people do this.

I had this in my last job as my job share didn't work Fridays due to childcare. My manager would make me beg this lady to cover an extra Friday or swap days if I wanted a full week off. Very toxic environment and manager. I ended up leaving as it just got worse, places like this rarely change.

Your firm's insurance cover probably has a clause in it stating that each member of staff needs to take two continuous weeks' holiday at least once a year (to uncover potential fraud). If they don't do thsi they will be in breach of their insurance requirements.

Don’t must contracts say something along the lines if ‘… covering illness and holidays, you may be expected to work other days..’?

what happens if you want a 2 week leave period (e.g. in the Summer to go on holiday). Would that not be approved? That would be a deal breaker for me. It's bonkers.

I'm curious as to why someone voted YABU to this. It's utterly unreasonable!

Why don't you raise it as a training issue that the other 2 colleagues need to be able to cover your work and what is it they need training in.

Will be interesting to find out what your manager thinks they can't do.

What would/does happen if you went/do off sick for a week or longer(hope not) , no one is indispensible and they should have a fall back position.

What happens during your annual leave?

Is this in your contract? If not, insist that you should be treated no differently to anyone else when it comes to leave requests. There is no operational or other need for you to be prevented from taking leave on Fridays.

Usually a mistake and not everyone realises you can change your vote.

You've put up with this shit for three years?

Or is this a fairly new working pattern for your colleague?

Either way, batshit.

Thanks all.

If I went off sick any work would wait until I returned on the Monday (or whatever day). My work isn’t urgent and I set most of my own deadlines, which is what frustrates me even more.

Crazy! What if you want to go away for a two (or even one) week holiday?

I assume if you're ever sick on a Friday the company does not end up collapsing.

What about the other team members - are they allowed Fridays off?

Glad you've emailed HR - don't let it go if they come up with a feeble excuse. It's totally unreasonable.

I had a different manager for a year, had my current manager for a few months then went on maternity leave and it’s been an issue since I returned!

It sounds like you are considered valuable to the company. The next Friday that you are considering booking call in sick instead.

Ludicrous. No wonder people ring in sick so much!

Reminds me of this woman who used to work at McDonalds when my niece worked there. She was on lobby and was the manager's favourite. Whilst everyone else had to work Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays at LEAST 50% of the time, and do late shifts half the time too, SHE was allowed to do 10am to 3pm, and ALWAYS Monday to Thursday only...

And also a colleague of my brother's (when he worked in a cheap budget hotel,) never EVER worked after 2pm, OR weekends, and always wanted Christmas off - and new year too, because SHE has got grandkids, and she needs to see them. Disgusting favouritism.

I've not even the potential identifying of fraud angle (and I'm an Auditor) it is the right to have continuous leave for your own health and wellbeing.

If Fridays need to be staffed at all time they need to find additional cover. Not deny existing staff their right to a full week or two of annual leave.

That is her problem. Not yours.

Didn't your manager take the hint when her boss allowed you to take Friday off? This is a rdiculous state of afairs.

I assume you aren't in a union?

Surely this isn't even legal...!

I am that person on a 4 people team who doesn't work Fridays. All of my other 3 colleagues can absolutely take Fridays off. Even when I was properly job-sharing, my job-sharing colleague had the days off I wasn't working.

Your HR has to sort this out and make a statement to your manager.