Annual leave is a terrible excuse!

[ANightingaleSang]

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!

Planned leave would definitely be a good alternative

Its an entirely reasonable request.

The organisation should be able to find a deputy in over a year. Sole traders have to, organisations certainly can.

You totally can. Someone else should have access to their inbox if they are unable to do their job. It doesn’t sound like that’s what’s going on though.

i make myself so annoying and present that it’s really easier to answer me. Email, followed next day ‘I know I emailed yesterday but I’m really finding this has taken a year and that’s too long, so could you please send today what you have so far/ send step 1 / send form 1 / send your indicative offer, and I’ll phone tomorrow and we can talk through my thoughts and what else you can send this week.
followed next day by phone call.
followed next day by email. Wake up every day and tick off contacting them, asking for an explicit deliverable and then all the rest every time.

ier

Annoying isn’t it. I have colleagues who I suspect use annual leave strategically to avoid big deadlines and meetings. Especially where they have to travel. Always last minute - oh sorry I can’t attend I’m on AL. Random lone day in the middle of the week. It’s their line manager’s fault too, they approve the leave but it’s really annoying. Always the same people.

Yes but the point is it might not be planned. They might have a medical condition requiring unplanned leave at short notice.

Asking for planned absence is fine but that's how it should be worded.

Again, if they regularly have medical leave over a year meaning they can’t do their job then someone else has to be handling it.

I don't disagree with the organisation being shit at not finding cover and seemingly leaving it up to one person.

I'm not denying that

Thank you. I would also consider saying is there someone else I can be speaking to when you aren't available.

I'm really sorry you're having to go through this op it sounds a nightmare.

Yup they should

You really need to change that narrative. Make it clear to them that you are now coming to the view that you have no alternative but to go for legal action because this should all have been resolved at least six months ago, talk about consulting your solicitors, say you have been advised that their costs liability will be substantial if you have to follow this route. If need be, take that first step and instruct a solicitor to write. You are way down their list of priorities and you need to put yourself at the top of that list.

I have no idea why you think academics would be good at working to deadlines, they're the worst! DH is one, he currently has at least one book chapter that's THREE Years overdue and he's been writing a book for over 10 years now!

After a year the softly softly approach or asking for a deadline isn't going to work in my opinion. I'd say something like:

Hi Dave,

It has now been 52 weeks since I requested this settlement be paid. This timeline has extended far beyond what i expected or seems reasonable. I totally understand you have other commitments that might delay your response but if so then to keep this moving forward in your absence someone else needs to respond to it. As you know I an loathe to take legal action but it is increasingly feeling this is my only option. I'd be grateful if we could have a conversation to agree fixed deadlines to get this matter resolved urgently, to avoid costly and time consuming legal action that will be more difficult for both of us.

There’s no time limit for this legal action is there? I’d be very suspicious of all this stalling. Do make sure they’re not trying to push things past a certain date.

Be blunt. Tell them that they have used 'annual leave' as an excuse for things not being done x times over the last year and that you are now at tge point where you want a date for completion in entirety otherwise you will be making a formal complaint about this highly unsatisfactory situation.

I was wondering if they were stalling because if a time limit too.

I think you need legal advice on that.

@Tiredofallthis101 has drafted a good letter above. I'd use that and add in a date that you need to get a reply by or you will be contacting your lawyer.

And do it. After that I ms be looking for one letter from my lawyer to scare them a bit. Even if it's just saying "my client expects a reply to her letter of x date. Failing that I have been asked to take this matter forward. I will be reviewing the position with my client on x date if she has not received your reply by then". If you can get your lawyer to do that lol. One letter shouldn't cost toooo much. I'd hope!

They have been stalling payment for over a year and using the words "annual leave". They are past the point of their creditors falling over themselves to be ultra sensitive to a debtor.

Its pretty clear that they are delaying payment or incompetent in the organisation. Either way the OP needs to prep for the first legal letter.

Can you copy in their line manager or head of service? Or even give them a call? If the person is very senior and it’s local authority it might be worth getting in touch with the local elected member or cabinet member for education.

I had similar with a tradesman who I have a claim against. He was always “away” and would respond when he came back. In the end I’ve just sued him and he ignored that too so now I’ve got a judgement in default and need to enforce it. I think you have to draw a line under it and send a formal claim letter( if not already) with two weeks for them to send you the money or otherwise reach a resolution - otherwise you file a claim. I wish I’d done mine sooner but I kept giving hi. The benefit of the doubt.

@ANightingaleSang to be honest I also think some people just operate like this. Bat away the email/question/letter etc. One of my siblings does it, even admitted they do not reply to emails etc. Over the past year we as a family have had a lot to sort for our elderly parents and my sister and I have done most of the admin etc. We asked our brother to do one thing and he just ignored the email. Another approach is whenever anything needs discussing or doing he trots out one of the following ‘sorry I’m in meetings/London/governors meeting/strategy meeting……I do not need to know any of that information it is irrelevant but clearly he feels he can justify his excuse…..good luck!

I used to work with academics and I was thinking exactly this. Good at deadlines That's why they have mugs support staff like I used to be, to meet their deadlines for them or bully them into meeting them.

I thought you were referring to my old boss until you mentioned it's a "he"

It got so bad that when I told clients she was on holiday, they would say "AGAIN?"

Can you ask 'other than annual leave, what other constraints do you see that will prevent you from responding by xx?' or 'please advise if you have a delegate who will be able to respond in your absence as further delays will be detrimental to your legal position'.

Is this something you can ask one of his colleagues to take over? Can you escalate to his boss and say you're sick of all the excuses and you want to deal with someone else?

I wouldn't mention the leave or say anything about knowing all their planned leave; as pps say, it could be ad hoc and down to health or personal circumstances, or they could be telling a white lie and it's compassionate leave or similar. You could get yourself into a world of trouble.

I agree with the advice to be firm though. I'd talk to a solicitor and get their view and, if they advise it, say your next step if you don't hear by x date is to get your solicitor involved. I'd go above/round this individual if possible; find out who's the next person up or along. Email them but copy in the original individual (or vice versa), so no one can say you're trying to cut them out.