Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Work

Chat with other users about all things related to working life on our Work forum.

Original poster

Find your own cover for annual leave

15 replies

chuffincold · 06/04/2022 18:54

I know legally my employer can say that in order for them to approve annual leave I must find cover but I'm really struggling with the memo that came out about it today.
In order for me to have a week's annual leave I have got to ask my coworkers to do overtime and visa versa.
I work full on, by time I have fulfilled my contracted hours the last thing so want to do is then do additional hours to cover a coworker's annual leave but am going to have to if I then need them to cover me at a different time.
I do see it from the employers side, annual leave needs covering. We used to have casual employees, specifically for annual leave/ sickness cover but they all got dismissed during lockdowns.
Anyone with words of wisdom?

OP posts:
NameGoesHere · 07/04/2022 05:45

Seems ridiculous to me, unachievable. What sector are you in?

Sleepeatrepeat · 07/04/2022 05:48

I would speak to a union or acas as that doesn't seem legal to me

jay55 · 07/04/2022 06:09

It's daft because then none of you are getting the benefit of annual leave. If you have to work 5 extra days ( in terms of work hours) to get 5 days leave, you've not really had any leave, as you've made up the time.
Do talk to acas.

ivykaty44 · 07/04/2022 06:11

As others have stated talk to your union

You’re legally entitled to 20 days annual leave, if you are being prevented in some way from this happening it would be illegal

IbizaToTheNorfolkBroads · 07/04/2022 06:16

I dont know what field you work in, so this comment might be irrelevant. Are youp meant to cover your colleague’s entire role, or just be available to respond to do stuff that can’t wait until their return?

TonkaTruckduck · 07/04/2022 06:39

Employers don't have to give you the dates you want, but they do have to facilitate your leave.
How about if you asked them when you ought to take the leave, and leave it to them to arrange cover?

ILoveAllRainbowsx · 07/04/2022 06:57

I don't have anyone who can cover for me as noone else can do my job so I have to catch up when I get back. It is hardly worth the stress.

yellowsuninthesky · 07/04/2022 09:56

@ILoveAllRainbowsx

I don't have anyone who can cover for me as noone else can do my job so I have to catch up when I get back. It is hardly worth the stress.
Yes I've been in a job like that too. DH is like that too, he's the only one who does his job so when he's not there the work just mounts up.

I agree with emailing your manager and saying I plan to take x week off and see what the response is. It will clarify the actual position.

AmberGer · 07/04/2022 18:01

One of my previous jobs was had this policy. It was a rubbish job on a zero hour contract. I had to cover colleagues when they were off. I didn't stay there long.
No words of wisdom.
It was very stressful trying to organise my own cover for my holidays.
Surely it should be your supervisor or managers job.

1smallhamsterfoot · 07/04/2022 20:03

You’re not getting leave though are you if you’re doing the leave hours as overtime on a different t week

Original poster
chuffincold · 07/04/2022 20:19

Thank you all for the replies.
I'm a swimming teacher so yes, covering whole role.
I spoke to ACAS last night who said whilst legal to ask staff to find their own cover it was very short sighted of the company. They gave me some key words to use in my reply, advised me to emphasise with the situation but question what would happen if I wasn't able to cover my shifts and they declined my leave for the entire year as they would then be denying my statutory rights under the working time directive.
The company have done a massive back pedal today. 1 persons annual leave per shift will be authorised if booked at least 2 weeks in advance, anyone else also wanting that date will have to arrange their own cover and any annual leave requested with less than 2 weeks notice needs to find their own cover.
Obviously this might cause an issue in the summer holidays when more than 1 of us wants a week off because we all overlap with other people and when there 6 teachers per shift 🤷‍♀️

OP posts:
ivykaty44 · 08/04/2022 05:36

If you can have I person off per shift and there are 6 if you, then you would all be able to book the 24 weeks total annual leaves easily with the 52 week

School holidays may be difficult but that’s not the companies issue - they are allowing you all to book

Original poster
chuffincold · 08/04/2022 07:10

@ivykaty44

If you can have I person off per shift and there are 6 if you, then you would all be able to book the 24 weeks total annual leaves easily with the 52 week

School holidays may be difficult but that’s not the companies issue - they are allowing you all to book

That's where it also becomes a bit more complicated.

I'm on 2 different contracts (as are some of my coworkers) I'm not allowed to book annual leave for my schools contract so if I want a full week off it needs to be during school holidays

OP posts:
ivykaty44 · 08/04/2022 16:57

So do you have two jobs?
If so are the two jobs with the same company?

Is/are annual leave days granted on a first come first served?

Not sure how with 13 weeks holiday you’re going to fit in 4 weeks annual leave?

Original poster
chuffincold · 08/04/2022 18:29

@ivykaty44

So do you have two jobs? If so are the two jobs with the same company?

Is/are annual leave days granted on a first come first served?

Not sure how with 13 weeks holiday you’re going to fit in 4 weeks annual leave?

2 jobs with the same company. 1 working 50 weeks a year (2 week Christmas shut down unpaid) with an annual leave entitlement 1 working 39 weeks of the year - no annual leave but pay adjusted. We've always managed one way or another to get our leave in and will again now they've back tracked. The issue when I first posted was that they had said they would only authorise leave if we found our own cover first. Not an easy task so far in advance if you wanted to book an actual holiday. They have since backtracked and said 1 person per shift will be authorised on a first come first served basis (& yes there is that 1 member of staff that puts their request in at the earliest opportunity) and other leave will be approved if cover is found by the person wanting annual leave
OP posts:
New posts on this thread. Refresh page
Swipe left for the next trending thread