Annoyed with my job giving me annual leave I didn't ask for

[Motherofflower]

I have been working as a support worker for 3 years and currently I am contracted to work 16 hours a week. The way my place of work works is we have 2 support workers for each shift for the ratio of the residents we take care of. Unfortunately due to health and old age we have had some residents pass away so now we are down with how many residents we care for.

Because of this we now only have 1 support worker on each shift, and from this our employer cannot give us the hours we are contracted to work atm. My senior is doing rotas and has messaged me to say because there isn't enough hours to go round, to make up for my contracted hours she has had to put down a day of annual leave for me.

However, I am a little worried because I don't know how long this is going to continue and how many more times my annual leave days will be used for this. I do have things I want to book for later on in the year and I worry there won't be enough annual leave days left for me to use for the rest of the year.

Surely, if I'm contracted to work 16 hours and they're only able to give me half the hours to work shouldn't I still get paid for the 16 hours regardless because I am contracted them hours? AIBU with this situation? And is it best I take this to my union?

Thank you!

Does she mean an additional day on top of your allowance?

Employers can dictate what days you take holiday.

Your union are probably the best people to advise you

It isn't good for morale or loyalty to an employer but i think they can do this.

They can do this legally, it’s fairly common. Many transport companies have set weeks off, where you move down a line each year. Some factories close down for two weeks each year.

I would book off the time you need later in the year asap.

I think employers are allowed to tell you to take annual leave tbh. I do agree with you it’s unfair I’ve worked somewhere that it’s quiet over winter so you get all your holidays between November and February. Any other requests were refused. Complete Pita for childcare. Id look for a new job lots of places looking for support workers.

https://www.tuc.org.uk/guidance/can-my-employer-make-me-take-my-holidays-when-they-want-rather-when-id

I interpret your post to mean that your employer hasn’t increased your paid annual leave but is telling you when you have to take it.

This is a change in terms and conditions, poor practice to change Ts&Cs with no notice. But my understanding is that employers can specify when some A/L must be taken. (Not a lawyer or HR!)

I think legally they can do this but morally it's shit and I would be looking for another job/company who could get you more work. I'm sure support workers are always in demand.

I think they can do it legally. I guess it's either that or they simply wouldn't pay you at all for that day. If there's no work. They'll do anything they can not to have to pay you for hours you haven't actually worked. It's a bummer but I think they're allowed to do it.

I've just learned something new here. I didn't realise employers could dictate when staff take holidays. I mean I get it if the workplace closes for bank holidays obviously.

I’d be job hunting as it sounds like this situation isn’t going to be sustainable.