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Original poster

Holiday request - denied

39 replies

DamnAllTheJellyfish · 19/02/2024 21:03

I'm in a new employment, only been here 10 weeks so far. I was asked for a list of my holidays which I gave within the 2nd week, one of which included the dates 23rd-27th December (2 of which would be closed for Bank Holidays) as my new manager was looking through my list, he stopped at that one and looked at me and I stupidly said that my sister wanted me to go on holiday with her for Christmas (I should have said it was already booked) Anyway he simply said well that would be a NO, we don't allow holidays booked in December.

I took it at face value as lots of companies have this as a rule (although I was surprised that this one did, as it would be no busier this time of year etc) Anyway i got my contract a week or so later and there was NOTHING mentioned about not taking time off In December.

So I had to officially request my holidays through the hr platform and I put those Xmas dates down as well thinking they can't be denied without good reason...email today just saying the dates and holiday request denied.

It Is a small family run business, hr is my managers wife. It is a brand new franchise for them and they are not on site, me and a colleague are running the show for them.

What should I do now? I stupidly run the idea of a family christmas holiday (my parents too) past the kids before I requested the leave and they will be devastated but I am a massive introvert/people pleaser and hate any kind of conflict but the only way I can move forward on this is to ring them, or do I just give up and accept this now?

Any advice?

OP posts:
DrunkenElephant · 19/02/2024 21:06

Take it unpaid. Just tell them it’s a pre brooked commitment, and if they can’t authorise it you understand but will be taking unpaid leave.

FriendlyNeighbourhoodAccountant · 19/02/2024 21:08

DrunkenElephant · 19/02/2024 21:06

Take it unpaid. Just tell them it’s a pre brooked commitment, and if they can’t authorise it you understand but will be taking unpaid leave.

You can't just decide to take unpaid leave for a holiday. They'd be well within their rights to let you go if you just decided to take leave and not turn up to work.

Pacifybull · 19/02/2024 21:08

DrunkenElephant · 19/02/2024 21:06

Take it unpaid. Just tell them it’s a pre brooked commitment, and if they can’t authorise it you understand but will be taking unpaid leave.

Then you’d be sacked.

shoppingshamed · 19/02/2024 21:11

DrunkenElephant · 19/02/2024 21:06

Take it unpaid. Just tell them it’s a pre brooked commitment, and if they can’t authorise it you understand but will be taking unpaid leave.

Apart from the fact that she's already said it's not booked you cant just unilaterally take unpaid time off and expect to keep your job

Chipandcheese · 19/02/2024 21:11

I'd look for another job if you can. If you stay working there, you can never ever have a Christmas family holiday or spend any real quality time with your family and friends. I'd definitely leave as soon as I realistically could, especially if you have children. Life's too short!

Yes, I know hospital workers and emergency services work over Christmas. Yes, I know some people have to work over Christmas due to the nature of the job but one of those people doesn't have to be me.

Nomorecoconutboosts · 19/02/2024 21:12

I’m not sure if you can do anything really.
Most places (if they want to employ you) will honour pre booked holiday but best to get this agreed at interview and in writing before you formally accept the job.
i don’t ever commit to a holiday or specific time off with family until the leave is agreed but I work shifts so I have to work a lot of bank holidays including Christmas Day itself.
What I would do now in your position is update the family you can’t do those specific dates and discuss other potential dates but don’t confirm until you’ve had it authorised. And make the most of the limited time you do have off at Christmas

Pacifybull · 19/02/2024 21:12

Sorry, OP, they can deny the holiday. They might have agreed if you’d said you had already booked it. At my workplace, it’s very busy in December and January and we are not allowed to even request leave for it until November - then they sort out a rota for it.

Gazelda · 19/02/2024 21:13

Does the business operate over Christmas? Have other staff already requested the time off?

I think that you'll have to suck this one up.

And if I were you, I'd be checking out the leave situation for school holiday (if your kids are school aged).

Nomorecoconutboosts · 19/02/2024 21:13

Oh and going forward if it looks like getting other reasonable time off might be tricky, I’d probably look for another job.

bellamountain · 19/02/2024 21:15

You might find another job before December and if you don't, come down with the 'flu' on the 22nd. Unless you work in health or social care or the emergency services, you shouldn't feel guilty.

shoppingshamed · 19/02/2024 21:21

bellamountain · 19/02/2024 21:15

You might find another job before December and if you don't, come down with the 'flu' on the 22nd. Unless you work in health or social care or the emergency services, you shouldn't feel guilty.

She shouldn't feel guilty about lying to her employers? That's a mature attitude

JacobElordisBathWater · 19/02/2024 21:24

DrunkenElephant · 19/02/2024 21:06

Take it unpaid. Just tell them it’s a pre brooked commitment, and if they can’t authorise it you understand but will be taking unpaid leave.

This is really shit advice. Don’t listen to it.

A contract doesn’t call out annual leave restrictions and it’s 100% up to the employer to determine when leave can, and can’t, be taken.

Original poster
DamnAllTheJellyfish · 19/02/2024 21:26

Yeah I'm gutted, I honestly didn't forsee it being a problem or I would have made out it was already booked like the other requests were.

I completely understand that some businesses don't allow leave at that time of year, I've worked in such places for 20+ years but they have all had a specific clause in the contract to say so, this didn't.

Should I ask for a reason for the decline? Or just leave it now? I would happily take it as unpaid, toil, parental leave...anything really, but suspect the real reason it was declined was because they don't want to have to cover it themselves at that time of year.

OP posts:
FriendlyNeighbourhoodAccountant · 19/02/2024 21:28

Sounds like you've already been given a reason though.. they don't allow holidays in December. Not sure what else you'd need them to say.

Coconutter24 · 19/02/2024 21:29

“Yeah I'm gutted, I honestly didn't forsee it being a problem or I would have made out it was already booked like the other requests were.”

You were told no and that December holidays won’t be approved, so it’s on you for ignoring what you were told.

Original poster
DamnAllTheJellyfish · 19/02/2024 21:44

Coconutter24 · 19/02/2024 21:29

“Yeah I'm gutted, I honestly didn't forsee it being a problem or I would have made out it was already booked like the other requests were.”

You were told no and that December holidays won’t be approved, so it’s on you for ignoring what you were told.

I was told that after I told him that it hadn't been booked, I only requested it officially because it didn't state specifically In the contract that it wasn't allowed like every contract I'd had previously so thought he was trying it on a bit, especially as he'd asked me to cover 3 of his shifts the week between christmas and new year.

I will live and learn not to be a doormat in my next job hopefully lol.

OP posts:
LaurieFairyCake · 19/02/2024 21:46

The 3 shifts between Christmas and new year are those dates though Confused

Original poster
DamnAllTheJellyfish · 19/02/2024 21:50

No sorry, the christmas just gone.

OP posts:
SecondUsername4me · 19/02/2024 21:53

But you can't always have all the Leave you want. Someone needs to work.

When you had the interview/were given the role, it's usually customary to discuss pre booked leave then, and typically this is then given as its booked prior to them taking you on. Is that what happened here? Or did you not mention the Leave til already in and working?

Towerofsong · 19/02/2024 21:55

You said it's you and one other person running the franchise and the owners are at another site / off site?
So if you take Xmas week off, your colleague will be on her own?

Original poster
DamnAllTheJellyfish · 19/02/2024 22:02

No, I didn't have an interview, I was employed on the spot when I gave him my cv. He knew me from my previous role, and it was during christmas just gone (a couple weeks after my start date) that we as a family were discussing the idea of going away this year, so couldn't really tell him any sooner than I did.

I understand that someone's got to work it, I just didn't want it to be me.

OP posts:
Original poster
DamnAllTheJellyfish · 19/02/2024 22:10

Towerofsong · 19/02/2024 21:55

You said it's you and one other person running the franchise and the owners are at another site / off site?
So if you take Xmas week off, your colleague will be on her own?

Yes I'd assume so, like all the other leave during the year. Or they would cover? I don't know really because it's new but I had asked colleague if that would be a problem for her before I requested and it wasn't, but she has handed her notice in now.

OP posts:
SummerInSun · 19/02/2024 22:16

Agree with Pp. The only realistic chance here is to talk to your colleague about whether they mind covering this Christmas and you'll promise to give them first dibs on Easter or half term or whatever, then you go to the boss and say we have an agreed a plan, colleague is happy to cover Christmas and I'm happy to cover Easter (or whatever).

Also, is it the sort of job where you can say you'll check your email daily and pick up anything that comes in, and of course be available on the phone if needed, while away?

workoholic · 19/02/2024 22:50

DamnAllTheJellyfish · 19/02/2024 22:02

No, I didn't have an interview, I was employed on the spot when I gave him my cv. He knew me from my previous role, and it was during christmas just gone (a couple weeks after my start date) that we as a family were discussing the idea of going away this year, so couldn't really tell him any sooner than I did.

I understand that someone's got to work it, I just didn't want it to be me.

"employed on the spot" is a red flag in itself.

Most jobs love you taking holiday at xmas as it's so quiet - what industry are you in to need you all in? Are you an elf?

Personally I'd be looking for a new job, it sounds toxic mate.

teaandtoastwithmarmite · 19/02/2024 23:18

We were told not to take any leave over Xmas this year as I work in cash apps and it's year end. I was told though that if I had plans then they would honour it but it's not an abnormal thing to have to work at Xmas (the 3 days in between Xmas and new year not the bank holidays)

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