Change to annual leave affecting childcare

[Popsandmoomoo]

So after having been in my job for 20 years (most recently working from home whilst looking after 3 children during lockdown) we get a new admin manager who comes in doesn’t thank anyone for their considerable efforts or make any effort to get to know us or what we do in our roles and instead announces (among other things) that we are no longer allowed to take more than 2 weeks continuous annual leave -first of all can she even do this and secondly if I find that I have to resign as a result of this policy (I can’t afford childcare over the summer holidays) the does this count as constructive dismissal ?

How do you usually take your leave? Are you a single parent or could your partner stagger the bit in the middle of the holidays? How do you cover all the holidays?

You'd struggle to find a job that allows long blocks of leave unless you're lucky enough to find a term-time only job.

Standard wherever I’ve worked as well apart from special occasions

How old are your children and how many years have you been taking all the summer hols off?

Is it only me that is wondering how many holidays you have that covers the school holidays .
I've always had 28 days including bank holidays so even if I only took my time off in the summer hols I'd still not have enough.
It's standard 2 weeks leave any more need permission off senior management.
I don't mean to sound unsympathetic but it's a rule for a reason I mean it's stopping others taking time off during that long block if it's the case that so many can be off at once .
So yeah you've been pretty lucky so far unfortunately you'll have to do what millions of other working parents do a combination of annual leave / childcare/ relatives etc .

@Popsandmoomoo

So after having been in my job for 20 years (most recently working from home whilst looking after 3 children during lockdown) we get a new admin manager who comes in doesn’t thank anyone for their considerable efforts or make any effort to get to know us or what we do in our roles and instead announces (among other things) that we are no longer allowed to take more than 2 weeks continuous annual leave -first of all can she even do this and secondly if I find that I have to resign as a result of this policy (I can’t afford childcare over the summer holidays) the does this count as constructive dismissal ?

Do you have something in your contract that specifically allows for your desired leave patterns? If not, then yes this is perfectly legal, I would go as far as to say pretty common in the UK and it definitely would not be considered constructive dismissal if you had to resign over child care.

Childcare or any other responsibility outside work are not your employer's problem

Don't forget some employers already cater for holidays, sickness, training, leavers, maternity/paternity, unpaid leave, retirement, volunteer days, emergency days, bereavement etc

Most companies have rules surrounding holidays. Have a look at the Government website for unpaid time off for dependants

The Covid virus has also added some extras into the mix, when asking for time off & arranging cover

Another poster who regards this as normal. My former employer allowed me exceptIonal 3 weeks leave for my wedding and honeymoon, but I asked 8 months ahead; chose a quiet time of year for the sector; and we didn’t book our preferred honeymoon until i got the green light.

In that same job, you couldn’t always get your preferred dates either if colleagues had got in first. All entirely normal.

Sounds normal to me, most places I've worked said a maximum of two weeks in summer holidays to ensure everyone who needs them can get some time off. We could only book one of the half terms and week at Easter too in advance

Your employers can dictate when you take annual leave, so yes, of course they can do this.

As you're entitled to 4 weeks paid parental leave for each child (and several weeks unpaid too), can't you use parental leave instead ? Or at least have 2 weeks annual leave and then some parental leave ? It's worth asking whether this might be an option, though your manager may refuse the dates you ask for and give alternative dates instead, depending on the companies staffing needs.

As you're entitled to 4 weeks paid parental leave for each child (and several weeks unpaid too)

This is incorrect. All parental leave is unpaid. Unless your specific employer has 4 weeks paid PL as a benefit?

@ BernadetteRostankowskiWolowitz

Apologies, I was looking at NHS parental leave policy only

2 weeks 1 day is our max without special permission... Used to be 2 days but added extra day for travel issues.

Special permission often given for travel to Australia, China etc wedding/honeymoon or alike.

Can you not put your children into holiday club? We always do... Only hard when in reception if still 4 as often places not insured to take all day till 5...