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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Dd17 work won’t let her book some time off for her driving test

300 replies

Blueybingomum · 22/08/2025 00:29

dd17 is currently doing an appearance in a nursery. She’s been there a year and absolutely loves it but the managers can’t be abit funny.

she passed her theory test last week straight away booked her driving test, now these are horrific to get atm and she luckily managed to get one in 11 weeks time.

she went to work yesterday and asked if she could book it off but manager has said it’s unlikely. She asked if she could just take the morning off as it’s at 11am but again, said unlikely. They told her she has to look at the staff rota and rebook her test. They have more staff than needed atm and are constantly sending staff home early.

Aibu to think it’s abit harsh.

OP posts:
ImGoingUpstairsToTakeOffMyHat · 22/08/2025 00:30

That’s ridiculous! I hate foes her contract say? When on earth is she meant to take leave otherwise!

I hope everything else is above board and legal?

RubyMentor · 22/08/2025 00:31

Your DD is giving 11 weeks notice for 1 day annual leave, her employer is being an arsehole

VeryStressedMum · 22/08/2025 00:34

I don’t know what an appearance in a nursery means, is this her full time job?
But this is ridiculous I don’t know what she can do except say I need that morning off and I will be taking it

HeartandSeoul · 22/08/2025 00:35

VeryStressedMum · 22/08/2025 00:34

I don’t know what an appearance in a nursery means, is this her full time job?
But this is ridiculous I don’t know what she can do except say I need that morning off and I will be taking it

I took it to be an autocorrect for apprenticeship.

Scribblydoo · 22/08/2025 00:36

Tell her to hand in her notice that's is atrocious behaviour from the manager.

Original poster
Blueybingomum · 22/08/2025 00:36

Yes apprenticeship, sorry! Didn’t read it beforehand 🤦🏻‍♀️

OP posts:
dizzydizzydizzy · 22/08/2025 00:36

RubyMentor · 22/08/2025 00:31

Your DD is giving 11 weeks notice for 1 day annual leave, her employer is being an arsehole

Totally agree!

WhereYouLeftIt · 22/08/2025 00:39

"They have more staff than needed atm and are constantly sending staff home early."
Unpaid, I presume?

Beammeupscotty2025 · 22/08/2025 01:51

Has she been told by her driving instructor she is /will be ready? Does she have her own car she can use for a test?

You can book Saturday tests and with Christmas coming up more tests will come out over Christmas BH’s too.

You use to be able to sign up for a test swapping site who will swap and book it for you automatically if you input the dates.

Zanatdy · 22/08/2025 04:51

That’s ridiculous. Surely she has AL on an apprentiship? Is it near Christmas? Booked my son one for February 2wks ago.

tamade · 22/08/2025 05:59

If the rota is out (or when it is) can she swap with someone?
I’ve walked out of jobs for less but with the benefit of experience I’d be tempted to go quiet about it and pull a sickie on the day

alphabetti · 22/08/2025 06:07

She will be included in ratios per child. It may be that there has been lots of approval requests for that particular day and can only have so many staff off on same day. That rule applies to my workplace and there is a holiday spreadsheet we would be expected to check before putting in any requests. She’s an adult in the workplace now so if wants to do well in her apprenticeship she needs to book time off as per the holiday request guidelines they have. Personally i don’t think apprentices should be included in ratios as they not qualified yet but in my daughter nursery they are.

autienotnaughty · 22/08/2025 06:07

Is it a term time only nursery so no term annual leave? My dd woks in a school and they allowed her time off for her test.
it’s harsh if they won’t let her book annual leave 11 weeks in advance .
Can she ask someone to cover her for half a day.?

RosesAndHellebores · 22/08/2025 06:09

Is there a published rota and are there quotas for how many people can be off at any one time? If the max number of people are already booked off, the nursery are being reasonable and your dd should have checked the rota before booking.

If the max number aren't booked, the nursery are being unreasonable

Any way way of finding that out?

SlantedSlats · 22/08/2025 06:12

They are being ridiculous. That in effect means they will never give her a day off for a driving test, which is completely unreasonable. Do they know the issues with booking driving tests right now? She needs to stick to her guns and do the test. I’m sure they need her there and will have to give in. Ridiculous.

InNeedOfASideHustle · 22/08/2025 06:27

Can she swap her shift with Simone else?

I wouldn't suggest she takes the time of anyway and 'pulls a sickie' as suggested above. It'll be very suspect if she's 'sick' and then very shortly after announces she's passed her test (if she does).

I'd suggest she goes back to the nursery manager and shows them the booking site for tests (they might not be aware how backed up they are!) and hopefully appeal to their better nature. I'd also be telling her to look at her contract/written holiday procedures beforehand so she can understand why it's been denied. If no valid reason, get her in a union and contact them!

MimiSunshine · 22/08/2025 06:30

Is the rota available yet?

unfortunately for your DD you have to che in you can have time off in any work place before booking something.

11 weeks out then you’d hope for some flexibility but it can’t be guaranteed.

if the rota isn’t available though then the boss is an arse

SaltAirAndTheRust · 22/08/2025 06:30

That’s what working life is about.

They can deny it at any time, and they can dictate to you when you take it. When I was that age, I had all sorts of leave requests denied by my zero hours job, and they just worked out how much holiday we were due at the end of the summer, paid it to us, and said we were on holiday for however long we were due.

They only need to have a valid reason - so if they say it’s for business needs, that’s that.

taxidriver · 22/08/2025 06:33

why doesnt she just say she tried to change but can't

BeMellowAquaSquid · 22/08/2025 06:34

She has diarrhoea this day I think…

Booboobagins · 22/08/2025 06:37

11 weeks notice and she can't take time off? I'd be handing my notice in and finding another nursery to work at!

RentalWoesNotFun · 22/08/2025 06:37

What do they mean about looking at the rota?
Does that mean that she can indeed book on one of her days off?

Does she get weekdays off? Is the rota ready 11 weeks in advance?

Is that over the Christmas period because some places dont let you book time off eg the hospitality industry.

shes been there a year so she should know the deal about booking leave. Although the manager doesn’t sound helpful and their policy sounds a bit crap she should have asked before booking if she wanted to be sure she’d gwt it.

a sickie is a bad move. Check the rota and change the booking or explain to the manager she will struggle to rebook and having a license could improve her commute to work so will be better for the company and if necessary shes be prepared to take unpaid leave or arrange cover fur a morning off (and do that).

spoonbillstretford · 22/08/2025 06:39

SaltAirAndTheRust · 22/08/2025 06:30

That’s what working life is about.

They can deny it at any time, and they can dictate to you when you take it. When I was that age, I had all sorts of leave requests denied by my zero hours job, and they just worked out how much holiday we were due at the end of the summer, paid it to us, and said we were on holiday for however long we were due.

They only need to have a valid reason - so if they say it’s for business needs, that’s that.

That what working in shit jobs for exploitative employers is about. We can do better.

tripleginandtonic · 22/08/2025 06:45

She needs to stick to her guns and say she is having that time either as a half day or full day. She's given plenty of notice.

SewNotHappy · 22/08/2025 06:46

SaltAirAndTheRust · 22/08/2025 06:30

That’s what working life is about.

They can deny it at any time, and they can dictate to you when you take it. When I was that age, I had all sorts of leave requests denied by my zero hours job, and they just worked out how much holiday we were due at the end of the summer, paid it to us, and said we were on holiday for however long we were due.

They only need to have a valid reason - so if they say it’s for business needs, that’s that.

That is what being exploited and not knowing your rights is all about.

On a zero hour contract you do not have to take any work offered so can technically take holiday whenever you like!

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