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Original poster

Temp job denied leave

20 replies

toin · 15/05/2023 10:49

I'm due to start my summer job June til end of August. I've told them I will need to take one day off to go on a work experience placement to do with my uni course, my summer employer said they will not be authorising any leave from temporary staff over summer as we are there to cover permanent staffs leave. I really need the money from the summer job but the work experience is a unique opportunity that I worked very hard to earn, what can I do, neither will budge on dates. Last year in the same summer job I was allowed to take 2-3 days holiday.

OP posts:
Willmafrockfit · 15/05/2023 10:51

that's pretty mean.
can you take the day off sick

Willmafrockfit · 15/05/2023 10:52

or just say you are unavailable that day, and so it will be unauthorised and unpaid

NowYouSee · 15/05/2023 10:53

Is it literally one day once? Or a day a week?

Quveas · 15/05/2023 10:58

You can't force an employer to give you leave, and if you now take it sick or any other way then they'll probably dismiss you anyway, as they'll know what you've done. It's look for another summer job if this day means so much to you and they won't budge. There is no right to take leave when you want to.

Willmafrockfit · 15/05/2023 11:05

they can't sack you for being off sick for one day, what sort of world is this?

Willmafrockfit · 15/05/2023 11:13

when is it @toin
near the end of your time or the beginning?

LIZS · 15/05/2023 11:20

Can you not swap shifts to free the day up, presumably you are not working 24/7

PinkFootstool · 15/05/2023 11:22

Will they let you take a day unpaid?

Aprilx · 15/05/2023 12:23

Willmafrockfit · 15/05/2023 11:05

they can't sack you for being off sick for one day, what sort of world is this?

I wouldn’t call it sacking, as that suggests gross misconduct, but they can dismiss for any reason, so yes for taking a sick day.

If this career day is so important, I’d probably plan to take it as sick now, but there is definitely a risk of dismissal afterwards by the sounds of it. If it is towards the end of the temporary assignment then maybe you can live with it, if it is at the beginning, then I would line up some different temp work.

Viviennemary · 15/05/2023 12:28

I can see their point. Cover for cover. Do you mean one day off or a day off every week. I think they could refuse leave and sack you as it's a temporary job. And you would have no come-back.

TheCheeseBadge · 15/05/2023 12:33

What does your contract say? Are you employed directly by the company or through an agency?

If via the company, you will be legally entitled to accrue some annual leave depending on how many hours you work etc. If via an agency, you just need to inform them you'll be taking it off.

Original poster
toin · 15/05/2023 13:29

It would be 1 day during the 3 month period.

The summer job is well paid and they have lots of applicants, you are easily replaced if you are found to not be up to standard.

OP posts:
WickerShit · 15/05/2023 13:51

You're legally entitled to paid holiday at a rate of 28 days per year (this can include bank holidays) so for a 3 month contract they would have to give you 7 days paid leave. However if they have a valid business reason they can refuse the dates you request and suggest other ones. There's more information at Gov.Uk.

sillyonehetpes · 15/05/2023 13:56

WickerShit · 15/05/2023 13:51

You're legally entitled to paid holiday at a rate of 28 days per year (this can include bank holidays) so for a 3 month contract they would have to give you 7 days paid leave. However if they have a valid business reason they can refuse the dates you request and suggest other ones. There's more information at Gov.Uk.

Not how it works for fixed term.

Employer - you are working for three months and no holiday
Employee - no
Employer - ok bye

Employer dictates your holiday and no law saying you must have X time of

BeerBot · 15/05/2023 14:20

Go and get a summer job in hospitality. Round me they're desperate for summer staff so they pay well and tips are good.
Then you can work your shifts round the day you need off

WickerShit · 15/05/2023 14:54

From ACAS -

"If you're employed for less than a year
You're entitled to a proportion of a full year's holiday entitlement if your employment contract:
• lasts for less than a year
• ends part way through a holiday year
Your holiday entitlement will be based on the length of time your employment contract lasted, rather than the number of weeks you actually worked.
For example, if you're a zero-hours worker hired on an employment contract for 6 months, you're entitled to 2.8 weeks' holiday, even if you did not work every week during the employment contract."
If your employer doesn't do this you can take them to court.

Temp job denied leave
skilpadde · 15/05/2023 15:23

@WickerShit is absolutely right; temporary employees have a pro-rated holiday entitlement.

This employer sounds absolutely shitty. Can you rethink and get a summer job with a better company?

Aprilx · 15/05/2023 15:59

There is no doubt that OP will accrue some leave, but the employer is not obliged to agree to the leave date that OP wants.

Original poster
toin · 15/05/2023 16:07

Just had an email saying they will authorise the day leave as it is a university event, phew

OP posts:
Willmafrockfit · 15/05/2023 19:11

that's good @toin

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