Negotiating Annual Leave

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I am at interview stage for a job I'd really like to get - lots of great things about it - apart from the woeful Annual Leave.

Have you negotiated AL? I'd rather take a slight pay cut and have a few more says AL. Anyone advise?

The only thing I can suggest is start by asking if you can buy extra annual leave. This gives you an opening to say you are looking for x days plus BH.

I used to buy 2 weeks per annum ... spread cost over 12 months. It was great.

Can you buy leave?

Some organisations let you buy extra leave but otherwise it will be fixed for all staff with some additional for longer service. However can I be honest with you if you were at interview stage with me when I was recruiting and annual leave was a problem for you I’d have had some doubts about appointing you unless you were by far the best candidate.

Thanks, I have considered asking if I can buy leave, just wanted ideas here if it was the best course of action. I don't actually know if I can buy leave yet, not been for my second interview yet, but I got a good feeling at the first, I really like the look of everything about the job ... apart from the AL.
If I can buy even an extra week, that would be fantastic.

Cross-posted. Thank you for your insight.
It does seem to be fixed, from the vibe I get on Glassdoor (common complaints about AL, but everything else good).

It's not a deal-breaker if I don't get the AL, but I do have a second job I am interviewing for where the AL is ten extra days to the first, but overall the package isn't as good (pay better, actually, but on balance other things better). Do you suggest, if they offer me the job, I ask then? Or wait til I am in and being amazing, and then ask?
I don't want to risk not being offered the job, so I wasn't planning on mentioning it at Interview stage.

I think you'd need to wait till you're in TBH, unless you can get to see their company policies / handbook at the offer stage.

Ok, thank you.

If they let you buy leave it will be in the terns and conditions along with pension arrangements etc. I would have thought they would have given you these already along with the job description. If it’s not in then it won’t be allowed and you have to weigh up the pros and cons. A ten day gap sounds like they only have the bare minimum but check there aren’t any special arrangements like closing for all of Xmas and New Year rather than just the bank holidays.

The trouble is different employers have different views.

I have more than once been asked for the maternity policy by potential applicants. I had no issue doing this but other employers would be horrified.

I would ask once you are offered the job. Asking about buying leave is a soft way to see how they respond.

It’s something I always ask for when being offered a job.

it’s always been a yes and I’ve never had to take a pay cut either

wait till you get an offer. Do not ask at interview stage.

I’ve done it, I just said annual leave time was really important to me and that I would love to accept the job but the annual leave was a sticking point. They gave me an extra 5 days which was usually given after 5 years service.

I've only had the first interview, not been offered the job, just getting to second interview stage now.

I know the Xmas-NY AL policy which makes me use up some of my leave allocation. It's such a poor AL policy, but EVERYTHING else is great. Argh!

I am going to go in to the interview planning on NOT saying anything about it, and only ask if they offer. I will decide after my interview if I feel I did great, in which case I'd be in a better position to negotiate. Or not!

This is my first job back after a maternity/SAHM break, so the first one I have had to factor in needing to take my AL over the school breaks - how should I approach this? It's not good getting 22 days if the only time I can take them are during term time. It's an office job and not particularly tied to any timetabling issues otherwise.

How have you worded it, and did you feel you were an exceptional candidate? I'm concerned they'll turn around and move on to another candidate (I may not even get offered it, but I want to be prepared, ahead of interview, just in case it does come up naturally).

I would wait until you have been offered the job and then negotiate it then. They will either have some flexibility or they won't, but it’s best to find out at that stage. Is there a recruiter involved?

Are you able to share what the current policy is?

When you are offered a job is the time at which they are most excited about you and you are at your strongest.

mostly they expect some negotiation. They usually expect people to ask for more money ey and usually have a little wiggle room.

i simply ask if they would consider increasing my annual leave to whatever it is I want. I’ve been successful every time I’ve asked.

once I asked for slightly reduced hours. In that job I wanted to work 32 hours per week instead of 35 hours.

they probably say yes to these things because they don’t feel like they are having to shell out cash.

it’s very unlikely they would move onto to another candidate. They’ve chosen you and want you.

Thanks, will do.

It's 22 days according to the advert and Glassdoor, three to be used between xmas and NY (during which time the office is shut). I assume BHs were on top. So I guess that is 30 days, but that's not a great amount of leave for me to manage time off with my children when they need me. It's really bad, for a company that states they are family-friendly and put their employees at the front of everything they do (according to the website, and the glass door reviews do support this view that it is a great place to work ... apart from the AL).

Thank you so much, this is really helpful. I do feel it is an employer's market though, there is nothing to say it won't be a close call between me and someone else, and if I get fussy before I have started, they could just go to the other candidate. Anyway, might not even get offered this job. They haven't chosen me yet (though I feel I was excellent in the first interview and built great rapport. But maybe so did the other candidates.)

They say on their website they are a flexible employer - hope this bodes well.

Yes I agree, I’ve never worked somewhere with under 25 days plus bank holidays. I would definitely ask to increase once you have been offered the role.

Thank you, yes, it's really bad! I nearly didn't even bother applying, but have now put in a lot of time with my application, interview 1 and now prepping for interview 2, and I really loved the place even more when I went in. Even 25 days is, imo, pretty bad.
The other job I am applying for that I have an interview for is 28 days PLUS five 'wellbeing days' PLUS two 'volunteering days' (where I can choose to volunteer somewhere) PLUS BHs! Now that's more like it! BUT, the career trajectory is much slower, and though the pay is initially better, I think the first place will see me earning more within a couple of years. Oh, and is hybrid, vs full time on site for the one with the better leave.

Anyway. Might get offered neither!

Just thinking ahead! Let's say they offer. Do I email or call to negotiate?

I think asking if you can buy additional leave if they make you a job offer is a good way to go about it.
However just be aware that even with a policy that allows you to buy additional annual leave your manager might able to veto it, this has happened tome a few times.

I highly doubt they will allow you to negotiate extra leave as where does it stop in terms of other employees ?
For me AL is a deal breaker as it’s about ensuring your own wellbeing is looked after and an organisation that only allows 22 days including 3 over Christmas clearly doesn’t value its emoloyees wellbeing.

It is under four weeks of your choosing. I agree it is low, hope you can get a better amount even with reduced pay.

I would wait till you have a job offer and then negotiate on the annual leave (as well as salary), if that’s a no go then make sure you’ve negotiated enough of a salary uplift to cover you needing to buy AL. Good luck!