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Original poster

Leave and what they didn't warn me about at interview.

34 replies

Winterlogs · 07/10/2019 08:25

Hello
Started my new job last month. Fast paced but I like it, a little intimidated by my boss.
Anyway had a catch up and leave was mentioned.
She wants a detailed plan of the year ahead and for me to submit all my request for leave now (leave starts in the acedemic year fir me)
I've never come acteas this before and really can't commit to a whole years leave just now!
I have a partner and it's impossible for us to know everything that will come up.
The other thing is I made need to take leave on a whim and so would like some for a rainy day.

This idea of leave isn't policy and wasn't mentioned in the interview. I don't know if this is normal? Is it unreasonable for a boss to expect this?
My other query is what should I do? I was planning on submitting those days I know I need leave for and then say the rest of leave I just don't know yet

What are peoples thoughts?

Thanks x

OP posts:
emmaluggs · 07/10/2019 08:27

What does the official leave policy say? Do you have something like an employee handbook?

Maskin · 07/10/2019 08:29

If it’s not policy then she doesn’t have a leg to stand on, surely. Send HR a ‘naive’ email?

cushioncovers · 07/10/2019 08:32

What does everyone else do?

I work in the nhs and we don't have to do that. However if you snooze you loose as all the leave will already be taken.

Sounds to me like it for your new bosses convenience rather than yours.

Original poster
Winterlogs · 07/10/2019 08:36

Thanks for the feedback. It's definitely not policy and though she doesn't have a leg to stand on I don't know how to approach it without creating issues.
It's actually made me feel like I need to look for a new job because I am am worried about speaking up.

Because its a new role I don't know what others have done in the past. The only other person is on maturity leave.

Sorry to moan feeling so deflated I just wa t to change my job

OP posts:
Daffodil2018 · 07/10/2019 08:38

Leaving your job would be a massive over reaction. Just tell her any leave that you're likely to book in but that you can't commit yet as you don't know for sure. Tell her that you'll let her know as soon as you can. There's nothing wrong with that.

Perunatop · 07/10/2019 08:40

Not worth looking for a new job over. Just submit an outline plan for most of the leave, adding the proviso that dates may change, and you need to keep some days back for things that come up unexpectedly.

Chocolatedeficitdisorder · 07/10/2019 08:41

The only other person is on maturity leave.

Sorry to detract, but I love this concept. I wonder if my employer offers this because I turned 50 recently and I could do with an extra break ;-)

Hadalifeonce · 07/10/2019 08:43

Agree with Daffodil, if you have definite dates for some book them now, and tell her you will advise the rest as and when.
If you don't speak up for yourself, no one else will. It doesn't have to be confrontational.

Countrylifeornot · 07/10/2019 08:43

OP is this your first ever job?
I'm Shock that you'd prefer to resign than have an adult conversation with your line manager.
Can you suggest booking in say half of your leave and keeping half flexible? Most work places do require a month's notice or similar, so you won't be able to take leave "on a whim"

FantailsFly · 07/10/2019 08:44

I’d tell her what you said here - that you don’t plan and book your holidays that far in advance - and offer a sketch plan (ie. you’d like to take two weeks in August and a week at Christmas, or whatever, and the rest would be arranged through the year.) And then ask how much notice she would like. I wouldn’t be confrontational about it (or involve HR for now) just manage her expectations. Don’t change job - there’s generally an adjustment period in any new role. I’m sure it will work out fine!

Original poster
Winterlogs · 07/10/2019 08:44

Chocolatedeficitdisorder. Grin

Don't think I'm over reacting and wouldn't just jack in my job but I'm not sure it's the job for me. Confused
Thank you for the advice.

Think I'll submit with provisional dates and the rest say I'm not sure.
The consensus is that her set up isn't normal.

OP posts:
Original poster
Winterlogs · 07/10/2019 08:49

Definitely not my first job. I didn't mean just take leave when I feel like it. Just find it ridiculous expecting someone to plan all their holidays a year before.
I think the issue is this and loads of other stuff wasn't mentioned at interview.
I initially said I'd think about taking the role due to concerns about lots of travel abroad etc but they talked me round and said that wasn't a common thing.
But November, January, Feb and all of May next year I'll be away for 2-3 weeks at a time. So perhaps this is where my concern and 'over reaction' comes from.

OP posts:
welshsoph · 07/10/2019 08:54

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

BlingLoving · 07/10/2019 09:03

I initially said I'd think about taking the role due to concerns about lots of travel abroad etc but they talked me round and said that wasn't a common thing.
But November, January, Feb and all of May next year I'll be away for 2-3 weeks at a time.

If they had to convince you to take the job because you were concerned about the travel and now they've booked in this amount of travel, then surely you need to say something here as well? "Sorry Manager, but as discussed when I took this role, I'm simply not able to do this much international travel. Looking at the projects/dates/whatever, I think these two are really important so I'll of course do them, but someone else could easily do these other three."

RainOrSun · 07/10/2019 09:10

DHs last job asked for all leave for the following calendar year in November.
They then routinely waited it February to approve, with modifications. It was a nightmare.

That said, I'd be more bothered by all the travel than the holiday situation.

FuriousVexation · 07/10/2019 09:20

The size of your team (and the cross-skilling of other team members) will affect this massively.

You work in a dept with 200 call centre employees and you all do the same job? Not an issue, take leave at the last minute.

Your dept is 3 people and you each have specific duties which others will need to cover on top of their regular duties? Needs a good amount of notice.

Original poster
Winterlogs · 07/10/2019 09:46

I am not too worried about the notice, I am happy to be as organised as possible but to be told I need every day planned a year in advance i find ridiculous. If I'd been told this in the interview at least I'd have gone in go this role knowing the expectations.

It's also been strongly suggested I take 3 weeks off over Christmas. Again this is a bit much as I'd have 2 weeks left for the whole of the year

I suppose I'm just looking for others experiences and to know this isn't normal.

Sounds like quite a few businesses do this.

OP posts:
KellyHall · 07/10/2019 09:54

I have to submit all of my 2020 holidays by the end of this month. It's not a small team but the staffing is always minimal so last-minute bookings aren't possible.

Original poster
Winterlogs · 07/10/2019 10:00

KellyHall can I ask. Does this mean you have to account for every single day for the next year?
How do you manage to do this?!
I'd love some advice

OP posts:
RancidOldMeatbag · 07/10/2019 10:45

I work in NHS and we have to do this.

PanamaPattie · 07/10/2019 10:51

I always plan my annual leave a year in advance. I also allow 5 days for emergencies. I know I will want leave at Easter, in the summer, autumn and Christmas. I don’t see an issue. If you have the odd day here and there you won’t get a proper rest. You may run the risk of not getting the weeks you would like or run out of time to use your leave.

underneaththeash · 07/10/2019 10:56

We had to do this as well. I'm very organised (and not very spontaneous) and actually it suited me.

Original poster
Winterlogs · 07/10/2019 11:15

PanamaPattie but that suits you. I don't feel it's acceptable to make everyone take 3 weeks off over Christmas to get rest.

I think if you've got kids of school age you're sorta fixed but I don't have kids and don't think I can predict every day I need off.

Is it policy at your work?
I just feel I shoukdve been told before I took the job. This would have been fair but its not even policy.

OP posts:
puppymouse · 07/10/2019 13:07

I've had to do this once. Basically there were three of us who had to take leave in school holidays in the team and one colleague would plan hers a year ahead. Our manager couldn't refuse any of her leave if she got in there first obviously but it put the rest of us at a disadvantage so she asked us for our dates so others weren't always missing out and she could see where any potential issues might arise.

We were allowed to take odd days ad hoc though.

Original poster
Winterlogs · 07/10/2019 14:25

Thanks puppymouse.
Sounds like it's a fair common practice even if it's never policy.

OP posts:
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