New job won't allow prebooked holiday

[FaithLoveandHope]

Hi all,

DP and I booked ages ago to go away at Christmas. We booked late last year and DP's previous job had no issue. He started a new job this week and in the interview / selection process they didn't ask about prebooked holiday and DP forgot to mention. Today they said nobody is allowed to book time off over Christmas in their first year and they wont allow him even though it was booked months ago. Is there anything we can do or do we have to just suck it up? Gutted if we can't go :(

It seems a bit mean (assuming they could agree it but are choosing not to), but there's no obligation on any employer to approve any holiday request, so no, nothing you can do.

Oh, and you may well get a chorus of people on your thread saying they "have" to honour it. I can assure you they don't, although many people for whatever reason seem to be under that impression.

Your husband really should have mentioned it at interview. The employer is probably not being deliberately difficult, holidays are a nightmare to manage and the cause of much conflict.

It does seem like bad luck I'm afraid if they are following their company policies. It really should have been mentioned by your DP at the interview or at least before he accepted the job - that is usually your best chance to agree it as part of the conditions of accepting the job.

My DH once turned a job down when they said he couldn't take our prebooked holiday (he mentioned it after they offered the job but before he formally accepted it) - they then backtracked and begrudgingly said he could take the holiday but they were so unpleasant about it DH decided he didn't want to work there.

Is there any way you can get your deposit back or have the holiday moved to a different date so you don't lose the money?

He's pretty much missed his negotiating window, hasn't he? But it sounds as if they could make an exception if they really wanted to. He can continue to appeal against the ruling but he'll have to be willing to offer something in return - is there some unpleasant shift that no-one wants he could offer to take to show willing?

Thanks all, thought as much. Trying to look into rearranging. Nightmare trying to get dates when the holiday place is available and both DP and I can get time off. Originally booked christmas as that's the one week I can guarantee I have off. Shame it's now worked out the one time I can guarantee off is the one time he can guarantee he'll be working. Fingers crossed we can find something that works for all. Failing that we'll just have to lose our deposit.

Does he work in an industry that is particularly busy at Christmas?

I would probably look for another job tbh but that's not a realistic option for most people I know.

Would they consider allowing him to have the time off unpaid? I'm assuming he's asked for annual leave for the holiday.

cunty I agree. He's only just started but I already hate him having this job

manchester Nope, nobody is allowed to request any time off at all at Christmas.

Sorry - which is it? No-one can book time off over Xmas, or no-one can in their first year? If the latter I think they really ought to have mentioned that at interview, given it affects every Xmas from here on.

Sorry, didn't explain that very well. I meant nobody can book time off at Christmas paid or unpaid in their first year Though I'm not sure how that'll work as clearly not everybody will be able to book time off at Christmas, so realistically it will affect most Christmases from here on in.

He could try offering a deal to a more experienced worker - eg he'll def do next christmas. Sometimes people will trade and there's often a christmas market. I have a jewish doctor friend who used to agree to the christmas shift for both may and august bank holidays off. I worked a christmas shift 2 years ago (optional in my work) in return for 3 clear weeks in January....