Work holidays.. Are they right to do this

[CinnamonAndSpice]

My dp has been requesting a week in march for ages. However they were waiting for the calendar.
They since got one and someone's has taken it.. Now they have said it is prioritised of who's been there the longest. Dp has been there since Feb. But would be classed as last in. As others have been there longer.
I would of thought should be first come first served.. But seems this isn't the case. What worries me is we have a court order to have his dd on certain weeks of the year and that now means if others have booked then he won't get time with his dd.

If others seem to do this and it's the normal then so be it. I'm just wondering

His employer can refuse his application for annual leave for valid business reasons. They should at least have a consistent process in place where everyone is treated the same (eg everyone has to abide by the 'longer standing staff get to choose first" or "first come, first served"). They must give people the ability to take their leave during the year.

Although he shouldn't have to justify why he needs leave, if it's that important because he can only see his DD on the set week, I would make it abundantly clear. Otherwise they could reasonably say "we didn't know it was that important".

Also it cuts the dependency on getting decisions out of the other colleagues, which sound a pain in the backside!

I've been in workplaces doing holidays in each of those ways.
If it is in order of length of service, the holiday rota is usually passed around for everyone to get their times in, by a certain date.

www.acas.org.uk/index.aspx?articleid=1637

This isn't exactly what you're asking but is about unpaid parental leave, which can be taken any time up to a child's 18th birthday.
It might help.

Yes, at my last place it was prioritised on seniority and length of service, although everyone picked their main two weeks before anyone could choose any more, so there was some choice left for the more junior people for their main holiday iyswim.

That said, in the circumstances you describe, genuine attempts would have been made by management and colleagues to accommodate the request, even if it mean being "short" for a week or two.

Also is your DHs care arrangement set in stone due to difficulties in making an agreement between parents. Just wondering if he and his ex have any ability to flex on the week (eg if DH is told by work he can't have that week but can have the next week). Might be worth that conversation in readiness for the future.

That said, often the reason for the court getting involved may be precisely because cooperation isn't there. Difficult, I know.