Would you still go on this holiday?

[Whoareyouanyway]

I had annual leave approved for end of this month over 6 months ago, to go away for 3 days, and booked the trip the next day.
Yesterday my management announced mandatory training for these dates (as well as 35 other days between now and July)

They made a point of saying if you don't attend these mandatory sessions this will impact your job and you might have to be in training for longer (in my case it'll potentially add 4 months to my training).

I am still going, my leave was approved, I gave plenty of notice and this would inconvenience my partner who's coming as well as me.
They can't expect me to cancel a holiday with 2 weeks notice when I booked it over 6 weeks ago. Would you still go?

Absolutely I’d still go.

Even if I changed my holiday dates to the select few days they allow us to go, how am I to know they won't suddenly announce more mandatory dates later on?

Yes, of course.

if there was really honestly and seriously no indication when you booked the leave, that this training was even a possibility, i would reinforce this to my manager and go.

Are you in a union? I would not accept any impact on my job/career for something beyond my control.

I was asked outright if I'm still planning to take the annual leave, they have such a cheek.

My manager even admitted she had no idea.
Upon taking this 'job' in November, I was told no annual leave for the first 2 weeks. That's fine, I adhered to that. But that's all. I really do need to join a union.

You posted about this yesterday? Of course I'd go.

Yes, I'd still go.

They have a new cohort coming in March, and I'm told now I might have to join this cohort instead and delay the 'training' for 4 months.

Definitely go. It's unreasonable of them at a time we are all realising that a work/life balance is better for our health and business.

They seem to expect people to have very minimal/no leave for 9 months, except over Christmas when it was convenient for them.

Of course you still go. Put what you have basically relayed to us in an email to management.

If they try and then ‘punish’ you with the longer training, take them to a tribunal. I say this as an employer myself that quite often ‘sees the other side’ on threads like this.

Yes I'd still go. Firstly because it is booked and paid for. Secondly because their behaviour is unacceptable. And lastly because you set a precedent if you cancel it.

You did not book a holiday over mandatory training dates, they booked mandatory training over your holiday dates.

Thank you. I will definitely still be going, I've been threatened with up to 4 months added to my training..

Just read the job ad again and it only says no annual leave for the first 2 weeks, which I adhered to.

You're not wrong to still go, however they have the right to cancel any approved leave, so bear that in mind. It's an unfortunate situation, but in a large organisation you can't just plan training around people's leave.

Any mandatory training like this needs to have contingency dates for workers unable to attend the first bout. Know this as have organised 100s training courses. You will NEVER get 100% attendance at one date set. People are on leave, sick leave, maternity etc.

They are saying oh we don't know if any sweep up sessions will be on so you have to attend this one. Even asking people to come in on non working days.

As I said what if I cancelled my holiday, lost all that money, and rebooked for a new date, then they announce mandatory training for those dates?

Right, firstly, I believe they have to give the same amount of notice of cancellation as the period of leave, so 3 days notice to cancel 3 days leave. So they are legally entitled to cancel your leave with that amount of notice. It's still shitty behaviour though, and I can totally see why you're pissed off about it.

With regards to the training - if you need to do all the mandatory training to complete training, and missing it means it won't be available again until the next cohort has this training in 4 months time, then yes, it's obviously going to delay you completing your training.

Basically, you need to decide which is the least worst option for you. Cancelling your holiday or delaying your training by 4 months. You also need to have a think about whether this company is one which you wish to continue to work for long term. Whilst they're not legally doing anything wrong, they're also showing you that they don't have much regard for their employees personal lives.

Do they? Obviously I think it would be a decent thing to do, but I'm not sure they're legally obliged to. I can't see anything about this on the ACAS website.

www.acas.org.uk/checking-holiday-entitlement/asking-for-and-taking-holiday

Just be aware they legally can cancel your leave provided they give you sufficient notice (sounds like 6 days notice in your case)

But I would a still go unless they do that

What was wrong with the answers you got when you posted the same thread yesterday?

Well they’d better hope that no one is sick or has a relative die or one of the myriad of things that happens when you employ humans.