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.

Well book something
Stop being a martyr

Contact ACAS https://www.acas.org.uk/
You do not have to grind yourself into the ground for a job.

I'm not being a martyr, if I could afford to book a holiday believe me I would

Are you intending to be there for your entire life? Die at your desk?

You are dispensable.
You have to take time off. This is bonkers.

Just take your leave. Whether you sit your bedroom for the week or go to Malibu... who cares.

You are being a martyr by cancelling leave you are entitled to.

The company doesn't care about you now... they sure as hell won't care when you feel over stressed.

I have put in for leave, I am waiting for it to be approved, they are trying to get cover, I will be taking the leave, whether it is approved or not

I was asking for advice, thank you to those who gave it

See here... you have said you cancelled holidays! That's what we are all talking about.

OP, probably means cancelled leave.
She may have just had wanted to take time off at home, hence being able to cancel taking it, without incurring costs of a cancelled paid for holiday.

OP,
Contact ACAS for advice, so you know exactly how to respond to any pushback.

If possible get sick leave extended for at least another week too.
You need it.

What would happen if you got hit by a bus? They'd replace you or find a way to get by until you could come back. Legally, you're entitled to a break. We all need a break from work. Book it in for when it's a quieter period if that helps you feel less anxious about it.

Yes, I understand that they meant cancelled annual leave.

But the OP chose to cancel leave instead of taking their entitlement. The entire first part of the thread is about that.

I cancelled leave, not a 'holiday', I'm sorry my wording has caused so much confusion!

I chose to cancel because they were struggling to get someone to come and cover me and felt I had no choice - yes, a mistake on my part

Like I have said, I have put more leave in, I will not be cancelling it, I have now realised it is their problem not mine and I am completely burned out

Just echoing on from what others have said. You can acknowledge now that you made that mistake of cancelling your annual leave and feeling like they can’t cope without you. It is very true that being a martyr doesn’t get you anywhere. If anything cover ends up getting pushed back because they know you’ll just continue doing it all…

From now on you start taking your annual leave and more importantly if you don’t get help from work / cover you need to find a new job. Start being assertive x

There was no confusion. You just quoted me where I said "OP cancelled annual leave".

You're entitled to leave whether you sit in your bedroom all day or go on a holiday. You absolutely do not need to cancel leave to suit your employer who very clearly doesn't give a crap about your mental health.

It will lead to burnout. You've said you can't even afford a holiday so I highly doubt you are earning hundreds of thousands.

I say this as a semi workaholic (I'm getting better)... if you left or took ill, they would have forgotten you in a few days. It's crap! Don't bend over backwards for employers who treat you like a machine.

Enjoy your time off

Could you suggest someone from your teams acts up as temporary cover?

I have, they won't

OP your health is so important and your company don’t really care about you.

I don’t think you’ve done yourself any favours by cancelling leave and coming in sick as it doesn’t force their hand to realise you need cover and help.

I’m glad you took the week sick now though. The fact they had to stop trading means their set up is untenable and that is completely on them.

Continue to take days off when you’re ill - not your problem. Book the time off and take it. I’d also be having a meeting with HR and the management about how this is managed going forward.

The fact you have been so compliant hasn’t helped. You need to force their hand.

I was told we are getting made redundant today, they are shutting us down so,,,,, have to work til April, still no holidays allowed

Then the rest of this month and the next is holiday. You have to agree for them to pay you for it?

if you don’t agree you stop going in, it’s now all holiday until your end date right?

Do you get paid sick leave?

Honestly you can’t continue working like this in a job that isn’t even permanent now. 💐

Is there an HR team? I’d make sure I had it in writing about redundancy pay and pay for remaining leave. You are still entitled to take your leave redundancy date or not.

Or if they refuse and you’re being made redundant anyway, get them to put the leave refusal in writing.

Then take another week sick leave.

Or take your holidays and stop being a martyr?

Well i'm not going to take them now if I can get paid for them when the redundancy goes thorugh

So you're obviously not as stressed as you make out? If you were you'd be using your holidays

How bloody insensitive, the op is losing her job and is probably concerned about where the money is coming from

Sorry it's resulted in this outcome. I hope you find a better job soon