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Original poster

Refused a job due to pre-booked holiday - is this a 'legal' thing?

34 replies

MrsMuddlePluck · 20/06/2017 19:01

DS18 has just been told that he can't have a f-t job in a well-known shoe retailer because he has a ticket for a music festival and is going to his Nana's 80th birthday party in July!

Is this even a thing? We bought him the ticket months ago as an 18th birthday present and Nana's party is in another part of the country so we are away for a weekend.

How can you be turned down because of prior holiday/family commitments? It's a permanent f-t job he's gone for, not a summer student job.

OP posts:
Loopytiles · 20/06/2017 19:04

It's perfectly legal. These crummy Mcjobs often do this IME: at the same age I didn't take time off all summers as I was told I'd be sacked.

In future - this is controversial - would suggest he doesn't disclose planned holiday until in the job: they are less likely to fire you once in post as it's more hassle for them to recruit, provide basic training etc.

nancy75 · 20/06/2017 19:06

When is the time off? Some shops have set dates when no staff are allowed holiday

khajiit13 · 20/06/2017 19:07

They are under no obligation to honour pre booked holiday time.

daisychain01 · 20/06/2017 19:10

There is nothing illegal about withdrawing an offer because they need the person in post for business reasons.

ShatnersBassoon · 20/06/2017 19:11

Yes, it's legal. It's beneficial to the company to take on someone who can commit to being there for the entire probationary period.

Could he possibly wait until he's had these weekends away before seriously committing to a job search?

CotswoldStrife · 20/06/2017 19:11

He's not available for work on those days, they may not have cover (other staff may have already taken that time off) and it's unlikely that he'd earn enough holidays to cover the breaks either - they are within their rights not to employ him (even if I personally think it's a pretty poor excuse for not employing a candidate you like!).

LIZS · 20/06/2017 19:12

It would be unusual to be given such a specific response to not getting an offer. If he were asked about availability what did he actually say in reply?

Sunnyrain69 · 20/06/2017 19:40

Part of growing up, if he wanted the job badly he should have disclosed that he has something booked but would be willing to move it if inconvenient to the employer. That is what I do at interview and I am a professional with many years experience.

You have got a right to leave and how many days and when it can be taken is governed by the Company or not, I think a sense of entitlement like I am going away on that date before you even have the job doesn't do you any favours.

LonnyVonnyWilsonFrickett · 20/06/2017 19:49

Many retail companies have 'red box' days where staff can't take any holidays, like Christmas - it's likely his days away fall in this period. They're within their rights to not employ someone who can't be there at their busiest time.

Original poster
MrsMuddlePluck · 20/06/2017 19:50

But he can't change the date of a music festival and Nana won't be 80 any other time, so it was all booked. At 18, why is he expected to take the job & then risk the sack when he confesses he can't do 'that weekend'. And why would he suggest he moves his holidays when he can't?

I guess this is just one of these 'suck it up' cases. It's an employers' market. Hopefully he's learned from the experience - I certainly have.

OP posts:
redannie118 · 20/06/2017 19:54

This reply has been withdrawn

The OP has privacy concerns, and so we've agreed to take this down now.

flowery · 20/06/2017 19:56

Doesn't sound like he is being refused a job. Sounds like he is refusing to accept a job offer unless the employer will honour certain holiday dates he wants. Presumably this isn't convenient for the employer and there's no shortage of applicants. Depends how much he wants the job.

BeyondThePage · 20/06/2017 20:00

Its a shoe shop and he wants time off in the school summer holidays !!! when all parents far and wide will be fighting over the last pair of narrow fit size 5 black lace-up brogues.

Of course they said "on yer bike" - did he DO any research into busy times?

whiskersonkittens80 · 20/06/2017 20:06

did he say he wouldn't work those days or did he request annual leave? requesting annual leave is different from saying he can't work then, the latter would make him come across wrong.

MrsDoylesTeabags · 20/06/2017 20:07

See this is why retail work is the pits. You get treated like shite by employers and your customers. Good for building a thick skin though

NullaG · 20/06/2017 21:40

Saturdays in summer are likely to be the shop's busiest time of year and your son needs 2 of them off. Any summer weekend holiday availability is likely to be booked up early in the year by existing staff. Anyone they employ now will need to be available to work those weekends - presumably the person he would be replacing was already rota'd to work them. They probably had an equally good candidate who was available to work the weekends they needed covering.

NoSquirrels · 20/06/2017 21:59

As others have said - he's not "been turned down" because of the festival and the 80th, he's "been turned down" because he has told them he won't work those weekends.

It's fine and his choice as a working adult not to accept the job on their terms. But do be clear with him and yourself that's what's happened- he has turned the job down in preference to the festival and nana's 80th.

I'd probably do the same if I was him, so no judgement, but it's not the shoe shop treating him badly, it's that he can't have both the job and the time off as the time off is not available to him. The job would be available if he rearranged his commitments.

TheOnlyLivingBoyInNewCross · 20/06/2017 22:04

Yes - if he had said that he wouldn't go on the holidays, would he then have got the job? Because if so, not sure what they've done wrong?

Brokenbiscuit · 20/06/2017 22:11

he has turned the job down in preference to the festival and nana's 80th

Exactly. It's a perfectly valid choice, but he should recognise that he had a choice.

OllyBJolly · 20/06/2017 22:17

*he has turned the job down in preference to the festival and nana's 80th

Exactly. It's a perfectly valid choice, but he should recognise that he had a choice*

This.

You are doing him no favours by making out the employer is in the wrong. There are probably permanent, long serving staff who have been refused holiday; why should their wants come after a new start at the beginning of their career?

It's not shit, it's not crap retail, it's just growing up and taking responsibility. His choice.

junebirthdaygirl · 20/06/2017 22:23

As the job is long term he should sell the tickets send grandma a card and take the job. I cant understand how you are surprised at the company. Maybe he will end up having a weekend off at that stage or someone might swop with him but he should take the job.
He can visit Grandma as soon as has day off. She probably be delighted with that.

SirNiallDementia · 20/06/2017 22:24

Loads of staff want time off in summer and school holidays, it's likely they couldn't accommodate your son's requests as well.

SarahOoo · 20/06/2017 23:01

This...

You are doing him no favours by making out the employer is in the wrong.

^^Spot on!

flowery · 21/06/2017 06:33

Most employers will honour previously booked holiday for new staff if they can, but in retail it's very probable they literally can't accommodate new staff having two Saturdays off at very short notice. That would probably mean either cancelling an existing member of staff's holiday or recruiting someone else as well.

At least your son feels he is in the fortunate position of being able to turn down full time work for this reason- presumably he doesn't need the job financially or he has plenty of other options.

insancerre · 21/06/2017 06:38

How much did he want the job?
Not enough to give the festival a miss and skip a birthday party, obviously
Its not the employed!here fault that they are looking for commitment

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