Unpaid leave question

[DomPom47]

My friend has put in leave at work for a week before the summer holidays, she is a Higher Level Teaching Assistant who has worked at her current place for just over ten years. The leave is for her to go to Ummrah (mini hajj in Saudi Arabia). Work has said yes she can have the time but it will be unpaid. She is upset that it is unpaid as she is going on what she deems is an essential visit but in my opinion work is right that she could go the week after during the summer holidays. I think the issue is cost as it would be a whole lot more for her and her family if she were to wait the extra week. She wants to now waste money going down the legal route to get some advice. She does not belong to a union and is refusing to join one just to get some advice. Any wise words from mumsnet about where she stands.

I have advised her that the money she saves on flights alone for her and her family is so much more than the money she loses from a weeks pay but she’s not listening. She’s a Leo so super stubborn and I have told her to her face she’s entitled but she’s just laughed it off.

Sorry, you had my sympathy until you bought astrology into this
Very professional to assassinate someone's personality based on a totally non-sensical pattern of star placement
This is the world we are in. Do people vote based on the party leader's starsign??

Really didn’t think me calling out something she uses would be seen as character or personality assassination. Sorry if it offended you thus. If you knew her you would hear her using her star sign to describe her personality alongside her views on her religion (yes I know the two don’t go hand in hand) as impacting her persona.

I think people vote on party leader whereas I hope it’s more on practical policy decisions and impact or policy aims (if not in power) and the realism behind these in terms of finances and impact on the whole population for the greater good rather than just those who may have voted for them.

She sounds a bit dense. How on earth is she presenting this as essential when.

1. its not
2. She could go during her very long standard holiday time

Let her flounce and get another job where she will learn businesses have rules about leave and they apply to everyone.

She may be that daft, but you don't have to reinforce it! And yes, to base strong opinions on religion and star signs is just taking the piss out of both (altho both are ripe for piss-taking)
Sadly, many people do vote based on the most trivial of things rather than policy, particularly looks; neil kinnock didn't do well with female voters, nor do female candidates (unsurprisingly)!