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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Annual leave is a terrible excuse!

105 replies

ANightingaleSang · 27/09/2024 07:25

How many times can you get away with using annual leave as a excuse for failing to respond in a timely manner/delays?

For context I have been in discussions with a third party for over a year! I was anticipating we would have the issue resolved within 4 months, ideally sooner.

At every stage the person I am in communication with is saying things such
'I'll take a look when I get back from annual leave at the end of next week'
Sorry for the delay, I've been on leave and only returned 2 days ago. Ive been in back to back meetings since. I'm off again until 2nd October, I will take a look then.

This has not been once or twice but at least 15 times over the past year

So far I've gritted my teeth and remained polite but it's getting ridiculous. Does he ever work? If he's away so often surely he should delegate tasks to someone else? I'm being left in limbo waiting.

The cherry on the cake that pushed me over the edge was that he gave me a 2 week deadline to respond to a a report. I had to do a mountain of work and got back to him ahead of the deadline l. He then replied he'd look at it on 2nd of October (see above). I just find that rude!

I have always replied within 2-3working days. All the delays are on their side

Am I being unreasonable to think that annual leave can be used as an excuse once or twice but after that it's just ridiculous?

Does anyone have any comebacks? I need to remain professional but if he keeps stringing me along i am going to explode!

Thank you!

OP posts:
mammabing · 27/09/2024 07:30

”Hello, please can you send me the dates of all of your upcoming annual leave as I’m finding it difficult to communicate with you in a timely manner. This way I can only message you when it’s mutually convenient”

Tagyoureit · 27/09/2024 07:31

I would just come out with it.

How many times have they used the excuse? I'd be petty enough to tally it up and explain that as this has now taken a year, would it finally be possible to get this actually resolved or can someone else now deal with it as you were only expecting this to take 4 months.

Is this something you are paying for?

Bgfe · 27/09/2024 07:34

Are you in a position to escalate to someone senior to him?
If it’s just him the reply above is good. I would add that his leave plans have delayed resolution at least 15 times so you would like him to give a specific time when he will be working on your issue.
Not sure what carrots and sticks exist in this situation though.

BrokenSushiLook · 27/09/2024 07:40

It might be that they are actually taking compassionate leave/carer's leave/medical leave but that you are not entitled to know the details of this person's medical or social private life so they are using the white lie of AL instead.

How you deal with this depends whether they are in your organisation and who ultimately controls and benefits from the work that is being affected by this.

It would be reasonable to ask in neutral terms whether it would be possible to review forward plans for the timescales of the project in the context of this person's other commitments so that you aren't working to unfeasible deadlines for outcomes that depend on this person's availability.

Original poster
ANightingaleSang · 27/09/2024 07:48

I wish I had asked this question on Mumsnet sooner. These are excellent replies. @BrokenSushiLook I completely understand what you are saying and I had thought of that. I have been patient for a year but now it feels like I'm being taken for a ride. Your suggested response is perfect

OP posts:
Original poster
ANightingaleSang · 27/09/2024 07:52

@Tagyoureit (love your username btw) no I'm not paying. Its for a settlement. They need to pay me. The next stage is me taking legal action against them which would leave them worse off so it is in their interest to get the issue resolved.

OP posts:
Week01 · 27/09/2024 08:06

Can you not just politely say as this has been going on for much longer than anticipated, can we set some deadlines so that we are all aware of what we are working to?

Darkfloods · 27/09/2024 08:09

Does he work for you local education authority? Annual leave seems a regular excuse for not getting things done in a timely manner in mine.

Original poster
ANightingaleSang · 27/09/2024 08:12

@Week01 I have tried a gentle approach. Asking for timeframes, deadlines etc. I really need to be more assertive because every step is being delayed. They are seeing my deadlines as 'dates to aim for with no real consequences' because the next step is to take legal action which I really want to avoid (and they know it)

OP posts:
Original poster
ANightingaleSang · 27/09/2024 08:14

Darkfloods · 27/09/2024 08:09

Does he work for you local education authority? Annual leave seems a regular excuse for not getting things done in a timely manner in mine.

Yes 👍 A lifelong academic, who on paper should be good at working to deadlines.

OP posts:
BuffaloCauliflower · 27/09/2024 08:15

Without having all the details, is it possible to say ‘I expect a resolution by X date or I will proceed to legal action’?

Original poster
ANightingaleSang · 27/09/2024 08:17

BuffaloCauliflower · 27/09/2024 08:15

Without having all the details, is it possible to say ‘I expect a resolution by X date or I will proceed to legal action’?

@BuffaloCauliflower I could say that, but it would be ballsy because I'd have to follow through if they didn't meet the deadline... And that could get expensive. Its my last resort.

OP posts:
Doingmybest12 · 27/09/2024 08:19

Ask who their manager is as this is taking too long to resolve and go from there.

ManhattanPopcorn · 27/09/2024 08:21

It's been a year. By all means, explode.

llamali · 27/09/2024 08:22

mammabing · 27/09/2024 07:30

”Hello, please can you send me the dates of all of your upcoming annual leave as I’m finding it difficult to communicate with you in a timely manner. This way I can only message you when it’s mutually convenient”

You can't do that. It could be compassionate or parental leave.

llamali · 27/09/2024 08:24

ANightingaleSang · 27/09/2024 07:52

@Tagyoureit (love your username btw) no I'm not paying. Its for a settlement. They need to pay me. The next stage is me taking legal action against them which would leave them worse off so it is in their interest to get the issue resolved.

Then I would give them a hard deadline. Say it has taken a year and you want to agree a date it will be settled by and if it's not then you will be pursuing legal action.

Itisjustmyopinion · 27/09/2024 08:33

Could it be that they want you to take legal action as there is a chance that they could win and avoid paying a settlement? Maybe this annual leave nonsense is a delaying tactic

If it is definite that you will win then go for legal action because they would need to cover your costs if you won would they not?

Mumofoneandone · 27/09/2024 08:36

Send them a notification of planned legal proceedings. They have strung you along for long enough. They clearly have no intention of settling without further intervention.
The fact you have tried to resolve this yourself over such a long time will go in your favour.
Court costs can be claimed from them as well.

MotherofAllMatriarchs · 27/09/2024 08:38

llamali · 27/09/2024 08:22

You can't do that. It could be compassionate or parental leave.

Show quote history

I think it’s ok in this circumstance because you’re asking to make a point and with the aim of moving things forward. It’s a stalling tactic to save the company money and you both know it! If you were his manager or someone in HR I wouldn’t ask but you’re not so it’s fine. Call it out.

llamali · 27/09/2024 08:39

MotherofAllMatriarchs · 27/09/2024 08:38

I think it’s ok in this circumstance because you’re asking to make a point and with the aim of moving things forward. It’s a stalling tactic to save the company money and you both know it! If you were his manager or someone in HR I wouldn’t ask but you’re not so it’s fine. Call it out.

Show quote history

Maybe phrase it as "planned leave"

Curiossir · 27/09/2024 08:41

You are less important to him than he is to you. Can you 'downgrade' any work pertaining to him and prioritise other work ahead?

mammabing · 27/09/2024 08:41

llamali · 27/09/2024 08:22

You can't do that. It could be compassionate or parental leave.

Show quote history

If that is the case then they or the company they work for should be arranging someone to cover in the interim. I had to take a fair amount of parental leave at the beginning of the year but my job still got done by someone else.

IsItAboutMyCube · 27/09/2024 08:46

llamali · 27/09/2024 08:22

You can't do that. It could be compassionate or parental leave.

Show quote history

Of course they can.

Persons absence from work is causing a negative affect. Therefore it is not unreasonable to ask for any further planned absence

DogInATent · 27/09/2024 08:47

Is this an overdue invoice?

C8H10N4O2 · 27/09/2024 08:47

ANightingaleSang · 27/09/2024 08:12

@Week01 I have tried a gentle approach. Asking for timeframes, deadlines etc. I really need to be more assertive because every step is being delayed. They are seeing my deadlines as 'dates to aim for with no real consequences' because the next step is to take legal action which I really want to avoid (and they know it)

My working assumption would be a mix of stalling and avoiding paying you. Gear up for legal action .

Do you have payment T&C in your invoices or is this some kind of compensation payment they are delaying?