To go into work and throw ACAS' number at my boss?

[worldgonemad72]

HI everyone

to cut a longish story short, ive recently started back work after being on maternity leave, things have been difficult anyway - feeling drained and missing my ds. But my boss has now decided that i arnt entitled to my full holiday allowance and basically wants rip me off by 18 days. I rang ACAS and i am entitled to the full 28 days. Im going in today and i really want to shove their phone number in his face and tell him to get his facts right...obviously i need the job so will probably use a more tactful approach. He's been an arse since i got back, hardly spoke to me, telling me i cant have kids holidays now the new girl is there etc btw its a small company so in direct contact with him all the time. Sorry for the moan but im sick to death of being shit on and expected to take it by him.

You are being shat on... but there's still a chance when things settle down it'll get better. It sounds like a crude attempt to force you out.

If I were you I'd put things in an email - people who are trying to pull a fast one balk from doing so in writing.

Just say (cheerfully) that you've been checking on the holiday issue, as you were surprised with it. The law has changed recently (which it has) and you've discovered by law you now accrue holiday throughout your maternity leave - and bank holidays which occurred while you were off as well - and you're now entitled to xx days off.

Put also in the email something along the lines of "with reference to school holidays - I understand that with Ms X on the team as well, the need for leave within school holdays will have to be shared fairly, but feel it would be unfair if one member of staff with children was allowed leave in school holidays, and another told she could not have it. But that you're sure an equitable solution could be found.

End by saying how pleased you are to be back.

Echoing the above:

You definitely DO accrue all normal holiday time whilst off on Mat leave. In fact, you must be treated in all ways as though you have been in work for that length of time. You will be entitled to 28 days a year, including the eight bank holidays as actuals or in lieu, adjusted to reflect the number of hours per week you are contracted to/normally work.

If there is a dispute over your entitlement, then definitely request your entitlement in writing and ask for his reply, in writing, showing how he has calculated it. There are very fixed rules about how this is worked out!

As for the holiday-taking thing - ask for a copy of your company's holiday policy. Legally, there's nothing to stop an employer from dictating when you can take your Hols, but there should be equality in this, unless there's a solid business reason otherwise - i.e. you do a specific job that needs you to be there on x day whilst your colleague does not.

If, though, you are a small company , then this may just be a case of your colleague has already booked those dates for this year ad the firm cannot have both of you off at once. If so, then there's going to be very little you can do other than to suggest a better system for next year.