Am I entitled to parental/unpaid leave?

[bringmethehorizonx]

I've had to book a week off work in the next few months as my sons childminder is going on holiday. However, they've declined my request because too many people will be off.

I did leave a letter beforehand stating I am booking it off because I do not have childcare for that week. I was aware that we had people on holiday already. They're all going away as well but I do not expect them to change it just because of me.

I don't have family or friends that can help me out and my DH does not have any holidays left. Am I allowed to take it as unpaid leave without getting penalised for it? I am not going to lie or call in sick as I am an honest straightforward person.

My guess would be no because you have advance notice, I think that's how my manager would look at it. If its unpaid leave anyway can DH ask?

You are entitled to unpaid parental leave, but if your employer cannot agree to the dates you want for this for business reasons, they can defer it. So unpaid parental leave won't help you in this instance as clearly they'd defer it for the same reason they were unable to agree your annual leave request.

As PP said, if you are looking at needing to take unpaid parental leave, DH should request it, as the reason he's not taking it isn't because too many people are off, it's because he doesn't have any paid leave left.

Alternatively, if you were not expecting other people to change their holiday to accommodate you, does that mean you felt your absence could be covered a different way? Have you proposed that solution to your employer?

I am confused it’s only February how has your DH got no holiday off?

Your work are entitled to not allow you the time off your DH would need to request it.

If it’s in a few months can you not source a temporary babysitter for the week?

If it is a few months away, that gives you time to find a sitter, meet them, and have them get to know your child.

How old is your child?

Your best option is for your husband to take a week’s unpaid parental leave. You’ve already been refused leave for business reasons, paid or unpaid will be irrelevant.

Failing that you’ll need some form of alternative childcare. I know it can be grim - I have two kids and no family support.

Find a nursery to take him for the week
Or another childminder

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

This is helpful. It sounds like your dh needs to request parental leave because you’re employer is within their rights to deny your request.

I am confused it’s only February how has your DH got no holiday off?

Not all workplaces have holiday years running on a calendar year basis. DHs is April to March so he doesn’t have any holiday left. Mine is September to August as summer is quiet for us so they like us to use up our leave then.

OP, I agree with the suggestions of your DH taking unpaid leave or finding alternative childcare.

@dragonsfire
I am confused it’s only February how has your DH got no holiday off?

not all companies run Jan-Dec, some are financial year, some are from date you started...

If work has already said the reason you cannot have time off is due to too many people being off, surely that is the same regardless of whether your leave is paid or unpaid? They aren't just doing it for the sake of it

@dragonsfire maybe the OP's DH's holiday go from April to April so all have been used/allocated already and are unable to be changed

Yes you are entitled to unpaid parental leave, up to 18 weeks before your child is 18, and no more than 4 weeks per year, per child. They have to be full weeks.

I have 2 weeks booked this year, email HR with the dates, the only condition is I need to give 21 days notice.

Look at the www.gov.uk site.

I work for NHS, yes we can defer paid leave as it would be outwith budget/ allowance. But unpaid leave can be covered by a temp as you are not being paid. So they may allow unpaid leave

mixing the employer is allowed to defer it if the dates don’t suit.

I am confused it’s only February how has your DH got no holiday off?

Leave years don’t always follow the calendar year.

Purple, perhaps I am lucky that it hasn’t been denied.

OP, good luck!