Can some people get more annual leave than others?

[thekidsadabhand]

Hello

I work in the private sector and get minimal annual leave. It works out as just under 6 weeks (been there five years so increased then), of which we automatically lose a week after taking the 25/26th dec and 1st/2nd jan off. Not great, but doable. It's quite an emotional/high intensity role, and I'm desperate for a week off. But I need to save my annual leave for school holidays (no one's issue but mines I know).

A colleague has highlighted to me that the managers, of which there are 5- we are a very small team- all seem to be getting between 8-10 weeks if the annual leave is counted up. Two of these managers started after me, and seems to have slipped In to the old "legacy contracts" that I believe two of the managers that were there when I started were on.

Basically, can anyone advise if this is legal and am I going to open a can of worms by raising it? It feels like a real slap in the face, as I'm front line and working long and hard hours, whereas only some of the managers are doing this, others are desk facing and always seem to be finished on time.

Thanks

Might depend if they negotiated their terms before accepting the post? Generally something which can be done in a higher level job.

Yes, it’s totally legal. Have you asked for more?

Yes, of course. Even people in my company doing exactly the same job get different amounts of leave.

I had a different leave agreement to colleagues in my previous job.

Basically I had the same amount of paid leave but had in my contract that I could take extra unpaid leave by agreement in school holidays.

Yes of course it's legal, just as different salaries are legal. As long as you are not under the legal minimum (which you're not if you have 6 weeks).

Managers often get more leave. 8-10 weeks compared to 6 is quite a big discrepancy, but as a private company, they can do what they like.

You can ask for more if you need it, but really it's best to negotiate it when you start.

Yes, it's normal, in public sector you can get more holiday depending on grade or lengths of service.

Yes it's absolutely something that can be negotiated into a contract (although not something my employer would do because of the bad feeling it promotes as demonstrated by your thread).

It depends on the contract being negotiated. Also, are you certain they're not taking unpaid leave?

Maybe they are taking unpaid parental leave?

Yes, different people in a company can have different leave.
It can be illegal if it adversely affects group with a particular characteristic e.g. sex-discrimination, age-duscrimination. Sometimes these can be indirect.
Speak to your union .

Can you buy leave or take parental leave? Obviously it will cost but it would give you a break, and I’d assume that’s what others are doing

Yes legal and not uncommon in the private sector where negotiating contracts is more common.

You can ask for more and try to negotiate, it's not guaranteed but worth a shot. Set out a rational case and I'd suggest avoiding going in with 'the managers do less and they get more' as that's quite petty, and 'I have kids I need more time' won't get you much sympathy either.

Yes of course they can. I can be an incentive for the Management role the same way as it pays more.

In some companies you can buy extra leave…. Where I am 5 weeks is standard, but I (and everyone) can buy up to 10 days extra. Obviously the more you earn the more it costs you.

Could they taking TOIL rather than AL?

I thought all parents were entitled to take 2 weeks unpaid parental leave, altho looks like it might be up to 4 weeks - might be what’s happening?
https://www.gov.uk/parental-leave/eligibility

I once worked with a woman who always seemed to be off on holiday - I was puzzled until I discovered she was using unpaid parental leave for much of it, which of course is perfectly legal. She eventually left to be a SAHP.

Yep. Many companies offer extra leave for long service. Some also offer extra leave based on seniority. You can buy it as a benefit in some places.
It sounds though that you are working longer hours too rather than just holidays being the issue ,?

Yes its legal. Some places also let you "buy" more leave by sacrificing some of your salary. If you want more leave you need to ask for it as you would ask for a pay rise. Or use Parental Leave for some of the school holidays although this would be unpaid.

Also you can buy or sell annual leave as a benefit as long as it doesn't take you below the minimum 5.6 weeks.

Entirely legal - where I work the amount of leave depends on seniority and length of service. But it isn't quite that simple. Because, for example, more senior employees don't get paid overtime; and even more senior employees get no time in lieu or overtime and must work whatever hours are required (always more than the contract says).

The obvious answer if you want the same leave as your managers is to apply for the next management role that comes up.

Can you take unpaid leave? Or maybe book your DC into a holiday camp? I have to do that to cover around 8 weeks a year OP.

Thanks all.

It's definitely not parental leave or toil, as it's processed differently.

I have set out my issues in both and email and a meeting. I did this logically by looking at similar organisations and comparing leave offered, all of which was above what is offered by the organisation. I have been informed my case will be considered, this was in November.

There is a high turnover of staff, particularly in my role due to better terms elsewhere. I do think they are under the impression I will never leave.

We don't get parental leave, nor able to purchase holidays as I would absolutely do this. Others have taken unpaid leave in the past, but this isn't always approved.

It's created a huge amount of bad feeling from my perspective. I'm dedicated to my job (more so the people I work with rather than the actual organisation) , but think a move into the public sector is necessary so will start searching.

I can feel myself getting close to burning out, and I do not want to use my sick leave.

There's no room for progression in the company and the managers do put down overtime.

I'm quite limited to the amount of summer schools etc in my area, but do use what's available which covers three weeks of summer holidays.

Yes. Admittedly this is a big part of the issue. Lots of toil built up but encouraged to use this within the month which isn't always possible so I will take it as paid rather than lose it.