Returned from sick leave, and I have lots of annual leave to take but feel guilty

[asitwasnt]

I have over 20 days of annual leave to use by the end of the calendar year. I feel awkward about it as I've already had so much time off due to my illness (2 months), and because it's so late in the year I won't be able to give as much notice as I usually would (people tend to request A/L around 6 months in advance, although there's no formal cut-off point). I also feel embarrassed to be asking for more time off... At my company I have to send an email to my entire department with the days I want off, who else is off that day and then the senior management then confirm whether they are ok with me taking those days off, so it's not just a quiet word with my line manager, IYSWIM.

I'm not really sure what to do about it. We can't carry over A/L to the following year

Can you ask them if you can carry some into n
your next leave year?

I understand as I felt exactly the same when I returned from maternity leave with 30 days holiday to take.

I've effectively used mine to go part time for a few months, so taken annual leave one day per week. Its had less of an impact on the rest of my team because they dont really have to pick up very much of my work as I'm back the very next day. Could you do something like that? Perhaps a Friday if they are quiet in your workplace?

Can you have a quiet word with your manager and get it agreed in advance and then do the email to the department farce? I'd be tempted to see if they let you carry it over too - I think my work would because it would be easier for them to spread it across years.

You are allowed to carry leave over if the excess leave is a result of sickness or maternity - any statutory leave. This is Hmrc regulation, they can’t take it off you

Could you have an informal chat with your line manager about it before sending the big email to the whole department?

There is nothing to be embarrassed about, it is your contractual entitlement. Maybe it hasn't happened to you before (thank goodness) but it is a normal thing for managers to have to deal with.

Yes I would ask if you can take one day a week or alternate Fridays and Mondays then you can have a long weekend every other weekend and they won't miss you probably.
Or take Wednesdays off to break up the week

20 days isn't that much for 4 months of year left. Do 2 weeks at christmas then maybe 1 week end of september and 1 week november time?