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Original poster

Losing my leave

92 replies

mumof2wife · 27/01/2025 22:12

Should I be bothered ?

Started a new job 6m ago. Love it.
Large organization. Love the work. Best job I've had. But they don't care about their staff at all and people always leaving - we are just numbers and figures so it's not a job for life but for now.

The annual leave policy is use or lose. Which is fine. In over 20 odd years of working I've never lost leave. Always managed to use or carry over but they don't do that.

However been trying to take the last 2 poxy days since DECEMBER! Keeps getting rejected. Time after time so today I talk to the manager to see if they can help me find days I can take who says

'Use it or lose it
Its policy
Sends link to policy
Please don't message anymore basically but in a nicer way! All through teams chat
We all wfh.

I've asked if we can try and sort out as I have been trying and I don't want to lose 2 days but I got the same response
And 'now I know for 2025 book it all up in one go'

To be fair it IS policy and it is clear
But surely use or lose should be for people not trying to request?

It's wound me up today and normally things don't bother me
It's 2 days I know not much
But also that's 2 days work where I could be at home with my children

I also got there are others who have also made the same mistake

When I spoke to my colleges they just said they don't really care about the staff

No employment rights I know so just thought I'd get others opinions

Thanks for reading x

OP posts:
Autumnblues24 · 27/01/2025 22:35

I'd be petty and ring in sick for two days.

Original poster
mumof2wife · 27/01/2025 22:42

Haha my colleague said to do that!!

OP posts:
TTCagain85 · 27/01/2025 22:49

You have to be given the opportunity to use your leave; if not they can pay you in lieu of or let you carry over.

Look up the Labour Relations Agency for more substantive info.

Original poster
mumof2wife · 28/01/2025 07:59

TTCagain85 · 27/01/2025 22:49

You have to be given the opportunity to use your leave; if not they can pay you in lieu of or let you carry over.

Look up the Labour Relations Agency for more substantive info.

So they are saying I've had the opportunity throughout the year and like the others 'left it too late, the policy is there for you to view and has not changed'
I'll take a look at that thank you

OP posts:
Original poster
mumof2wife · 28/01/2025 07:59

I've also asked for payment and carry over and was told no due to policy

OP posts:
MagpiePi · 28/01/2025 08:03

Unless there is something in the policy about having to book leave by a certain date, then I don’t see how they can say you’ve left it too late. If the leave year runs to the end of December then you should be able to book the leave up to then.

However, it does look like they have a ‘computer says no’ attitude.
Id go off sick.

CoralHare · 28/01/2025 08:04

I’d ring ACAS, but ultimately you have to decide if you will push this to the point they get rid of you (currently fairly easy for them to do) or you would rather bite your tongue and keep the job. It’s absolutely awful practice though. Employment law reform can’t come fast enough. I have zero sympathy for companies moaning about increased workers rights. If companies didn’t pull this sort of nonsense, there wouldn’t be the clamour for more protections.

CoralHare · 28/01/2025 08:05

MagpiePi · 28/01/2025 08:03

Unless there is something in the policy about having to book leave by a certain date, then I don’t see how they can say you’ve left it too late. If the leave year runs to the end of December then you should be able to book the leave up to then.

However, it does look like they have a ‘computer says no’ attitude.
Id go off sick.

If you were trying to take two weeks at peak season for workload maybe they would have a point but 2 days is nothing. You could be off for two days because you caught a bug. If they can’t cope with staff taking two days off then they are understaffed.

Viviennemary · 28/01/2025 08:08

CoralHare · 28/01/2025 08:05

If you were trying to take two weeks at peak season for workload maybe they would have a point but 2 days is nothing. You could be off for two days because you caught a bug. If they can’t cope with staff taking two days off then they are understaffed.

Show quote history

Take out a grievance against your manager. Probably easier to take sick leave though. And look for a new job.

BraveFacesEveryone · 28/01/2025 08:17

If you only get statutory minimum holiday, you usually have to be able to take it in the year (unless if something like mat leave or long term sickness absence etc). They can ‘use it or lose it’ for annual leave over the statutory minimum but should be encouraging you to book in your holiday, going as far as even assigning the last of the annual leave and telling you when to take it if it looks like you’re not going to use it in time. They must give you the opportunity to use it.

Original poster
mumof2wife · 28/01/2025 08:49

MagpiePi · 28/01/2025 08:03

Unless there is something in the policy about having to book leave by a certain date, then I don’t see how they can say you’ve left it too late. If the leave year runs to the end of December then you should be able to book the leave up to then.

However, it does look like they have a ‘computer says no’ attitude.
Id go off sick.

Our leave runs from the financial year so I have until 31st march 25 to book my 1.75hrs
That's a good point, i don't think it does I will check

OP posts:
thinkfast · 28/01/2025 08:59

Email your manager saying that you wish to book your remaining leave, but your requests are being deleted and ask when you can take the remaining days

Original poster
mumof2wife · 28/01/2025 09:08

thinkfast · 28/01/2025 08:59

Email your manager saying that you wish to book your remaining leave, but your requests are being deleted and ask when you can take the remaining days

I did this and that's when he said it's all gone, it's lost and I'm not the only only etc
Needs the policy etc
So now at the point of wondering if I should take further or not
I think I will as I say it's not a forever job there's other issues there
But I'm PT and just keep my head down
The culture is horrid

OP posts:
mrsm43s · 28/01/2025 09:11

I think that if you're in a "use it or lose it" environment, especially one which is strict about number of people off at a time, then it makes sense to book all your leave in at the start of the year. Leaving it to December is a risky strategy, as you've found out. Why did you not book in your leave before?

I used to always book the last week of March off when I was in that kind of environment, and I saw those as my "emergency days", which I could cancel if I needed to take a short notice day off due to child issues. If I didn't need them, I had the last week of March off!

thinkfast · 28/01/2025 09:14

Just seen your update OP. I think you should reply to say that for the policy to work, management needs to facilitate me taking my leave, so please let me know when I can take it? If the policy says how much notice you need to give to request leave, point out that you are within the required notice period.

If that fails, raise a grievance.

Berthatydfil · 28/01/2025 09:17

mrsm43s · 28/01/2025 09:11

I think that if you're in a "use it or lose it" environment, especially one which is strict about number of people off at a time, then it makes sense to book all your leave in at the start of the year. Leaving it to December is a risky strategy, as you've found out. Why did you not book in your leave before?

I used to always book the last week of March off when I was in that kind of environment, and I saw those as my "emergency days", which I could cancel if I needed to take a short notice day off due to child issues. If I didn't need them, I had the last week of March off!

I assume this is because she started 6 months ago and mussed the boat as everyone else has already booked theirs,

This seems very unfair but with only 6 months service the OP does not qualify for protection from unfair dismissal.

Negroany · 28/01/2025 09:17

How much leave do you get? If you get the statutory minimum and they sack you for trying to take it, that would be automatic unfair dismissal and you don't need two years service for that claim.

You DO have employment rights. You have statutory rights, like leave, minimum wage, the right not to be discriminated against for a protected characteristic.......etc. And the right to claim unfair dismissal if you are dismissed for asserting a statutory right.

I'd go above the manager.

ByQuaintAzureWasp · 28/01/2025 09:37

Just googled it and they can't make you lose it. It's on .gov site.

Losing my leave
ByQuaintAzureWasp · 28/01/2025 09:41

Show them what it says on .gov (it's law, they don't have the right to be above the law - fair enough if they don't know, but once you show them they need to update their policy.

I'd join a trade union. They'd be all over this like a rash.

caffelattetogo · 28/01/2025 09:49

Don't go off sick - it's misconduct if you're not really sick, and they can fire you. Have you tried putting in every combination of days before your leave calendar ends?

Original poster
mumof2wife · 28/01/2025 11:53

mrsm43s · 28/01/2025 09:11

I think that if you're in a "use it or lose it" environment, especially one which is strict about number of people off at a time, then it makes sense to book all your leave in at the start of the year. Leaving it to December is a risky strategy, as you've found out. Why did you not book in your leave before?

I used to always book the last week of March off when I was in that kind of environment, and I saw those as my "emergency days", which I could cancel if I needed to take a short notice day off due to child issues. If I didn't need them, I had the last week of March off!

Because we are talking about 1.75 days which I didn't think would be an issue but this year I will be doing that!!

OP posts:
Original poster
mumof2wife · 28/01/2025 11:55

thinkfast · 28/01/2025 09:14

Just seen your update OP. I think you should reply to say that for the policy to work, management needs to facilitate me taking my leave, so please let me know when I can take it? If the policy says how much notice you need to give to request leave, point out that you are within the required notice period.

If that fails, raise a grievance.

Great advice I'll do this
Can you still raise a grievance if I have no employment rights? I think at that point it will leave a sour taste and like pp said maybe a new job !

OP posts:
Original poster
mumof2wife · 28/01/2025 11:57

caffelattetogo · 28/01/2025 09:49

Don't go off sick - it's misconduct if you're not really sick, and they can fire you. Have you tried putting in every combination of days before your leave calendar ends?

I won't go sick
They've told me it's all gone and I'm too late categorically

OP posts:
Original poster
mumof2wife · 28/01/2025 11:58

ByQuaintAzureWasp · 28/01/2025 09:37

Just googled it and they can't make you lose it. It's on .gov site.

So if I'm asking for 1.75hrs they've just declined saying it's all gone as everyone has left it too late
Applying in December for leave in Jan feb or march I've said I'll have it wherever

OP posts:
ThatsNotMyTeen · 28/01/2025 12:04

Berthatydfil · 28/01/2025 09:17

I assume this is because she started 6 months ago and mussed the boat as everyone else has already booked theirs,

This seems very unfair but with only 6 months service the OP does not qualify for protection from unfair dismissal.

Show quote history

Well actually she could do if she was dismissed for asserting a statutory right to take annual leave. Automatically unfair dismissals don’t have the service requirement

OP your manager is being a dick. Go over his head. You haven’t had ample opportunity to take it in the leave year as you have only been there 6 months and all attempts to take it have been declined. Tell them to give you the days you can take the leave or you expect to carry it over.

i was wondering if you worked in the same place as me as sounds very similar to here but we have a Jan - Dec leave year.