to want time off work

[takingthepissoutofme]

Through events I can't go into as will be outing, I have no one to cover me at work, holidays, sickness, appointments. I did have someone who could cover, but no longer here. There is a plan to replace that person but at current it's not possible. We are one of several remote units and our HO is based in another part of the country some 6 hours away. No one from another site or HO can cover me as they can't commute and none will agree to stay.

I have not had any time off for 6 months and i'm losing the will to live.

I just don't know what to do.

Then there is no cover. Put your out of office on. You are entitled to leave, so book it. It's up to management to arrange cover

You must take the statutory minimum of 28 days at the very least, your employer is breaking the law if they do not allow this. If there’s no cover that’s for them to deal with not you. Who is your manager and what are they saying about your time off?

That must feel suffocating. Has your employer cancelled your annual leave after this person left the company?

You have a legal entitlement to time off.
It is not up to you to worry about cover.
Surely the alternative is that you completely burn out and end up sick and thus not working anyway?

Book your leave. Let them worry about cover. Its not your problem.

I am the Manager here. My assistant manager 'left'. Had cover but no good. stringing me along saying it will be this date, it will be that date. I have cancelled holidays and I have come in when ill. I know I should grow a pair and just go off but it could cause more trouble than its worth, and I do suffer with anxiety sometimes and this would put it through the roof.

Who has told you to cancel the leave?

Do you have someone managing you though? It's up to them to figure out what to do without you and your assistant.

can you organise your own temp?

But something has got to give. Don't let it be you before you break.

It’s the person/people at HO who need to deal with this. Sadly, as long as you keep going, you make it easier for them to bury their heads in the sand.
If your last leave was 6 months ago, how much annual leave do you have remaining, when does your leave year finish? What does your contract say about leave, carrying forward to next year etc? It’s often a ‘use it or lose it’ scenario.
Make a plan and send to HO - I have x days annual leave to be taken by Y date, I will be taking it on Z dates, cover must be found. Non-negotiable. One of these people who ‘doesn’t want to stay’ might have to. Not your problem.
And maybe start looking for another job…

Kindly, you are being a martyr and work won’t care when you burn out.

By not taking leave (cancelling leave?! Bonkers) and coming in when you should be off, you are solving the problem for them. They have no incentive to sort it - you are sorting it. They will not thank you.

Put yourself first. As per PPs you are legally entitled to leave. You must be owed loads and it will be ‘use it or lose it’ each holiday year.

As you’re the manager why can’t you start the recruitment process / sort a temp?

Why are you cancelling all your leave and coming in sick?

This is not complicated Sounds like you have two options:

1. Take the annual leave you are entitled to and learn to manage your anxiety around that

or

2. Never be off and Burn Out

Pick one.

Contact ACAS for advice on this matter as it doesn’t sound legal

Are you an employee? Then you have rights to time off for annual leave and if you are unwell. Book the leave, inform your line manager, let the shit hit the fan if necessary. Stop being a martyr.

OP is the one cancelling their own leave and choosing to come to work when she’s sick - she’s not being forced.

Yes, I have cancelled leave, I felt like I had no choice. I understand that was my first mistake, by offering at the first hurdle. Been told can carry these over as a one off. Can't start recruitment process and won't authorise it until end March/April. Yes, I am being a bit of a Martyr. I am already looking for another job as I have come to realise I am just a number.

The fact I get anxious has played a big part in this too.

What you do is book time off, with appropriate notice, warn HO no one is covering, then go off. There’s no urgency to them sorting it out while you’re effectively doing it for them by cancelling your leave. Their recruitment timeline delay is not your problem.

What are you anxious is going to happen?

Quit. Find another job.

Book holiday

Do not cancel

https://www.gov.uk/holiday-entitlement-rights

Nobody likes or appreciates a martyr.

Book holiday. Take holiday.

You’re causing your own problems here. If you’re sick, stay home. If you’ve booked leave, take it. Nobody respects a martyr.

Book some time off and tell your manager they need to arrange something.

Legally you are entitled to your breaks and your holidays. Are you in a union? They would help you with this. You can work forever without time off, it's not healthy or safe. Your employer had a duty to make sure you can take your holidays and if that means they need to close while you are off then so be it.

What are your working days/hours? What kind of work is it i.e. office, retail, care?