Getting annoyed with lack of holidays?

[dj9928]

I've been in my job 18 months now, I've stuck this thus far but at the moment its really starting to annoy me, I'd find another job but it seems I'll just encounter another issue in another job so whats the point of moving?

 

I am aware 28 days minimum, This year I have got 2 days at Easter, 1 day at May day, just had 1 week for summer and will probably get 1 week for Christmas (If I am very lucky) that works out at what, 13 days for an entire year.

 

Our contract states certain days which are set the rest to book at the companies discretion, you get the set holidays, damn all else. its a small company run by 2 brothers and has 5 employees, the problem is it can't cope with 5 so if someone takes of it really goes tits up so when you ask to book off 101 questions are asked, you might get the OK if you have booked to go somewhere, but they pay min wage and know on min wage no one can afford to go anywhere. Sitting at home is not seen as a valid reason and you get the old "Ah we're to busy at the moment" yet they take 2 or 3 foreign holidays per year.

 

You should not need any reason to book off, I am only there 18 months, but other employees have holidays carried over from 3-4 years ago and it doesn't really seem to bother them, they are used to it. They let them run so long then get paid in cash for unused holidays.

 

I left my last job due to them breaking the work time regulations, I was working over 50 hours per week, it seems although there are various laws companies break them and there is damn all you can do.

 

I am back on Monday and find it all very depressing to be honest.

 

Any advice?

[Lapsed Workaholic]

Please check out ACAS advice on holiday entitlement at this link:

http://www.acas.org.uk/index.aspx?articleid=1374

It sounds from what you say that any action you take to protect/uphold your rights could meet with serious consequences/risk and little or no support from colleagues. Up to you to decide how to play it once you have weighed up the pros and cons.

Many would advise caution and say grin and bear it. I would not. I have never allowed myself to be used, exploited, and never will. It all depends on how desperate you are to keep this job, how much crawling and posterior licking you are prepared to do to keep it.

[dj9928]

Please check out ACAS advice on holiday entitlement at this link:

http://www.acas.org.uk/index.aspx?articleid=1374

It sounds from what you say that any action you take to protect/uphold your rights could meet with serious consequences/risk and little or no support from colleagues. Up to you to decide how to play it once you have weighed up the pros and cons.

Many would advise caution and say grin and bear it. I would not. I have never allowed myself to be used, exploited, and never will. It all depends on how desperate you are to keep this job, how much crawling and posterior licking you are prepared to do to keep it.

 

I do like the work and the company but there is always something, this job is the holiday situation. I wouldn't say I am fussy but there always seems to be something. I did end up taking an employer to court a few years back over a TUPE issue so I am not afraid to take it up but the problem these type of **** just keeps happening.

[citizenB]

I don't see that you need to say if you are going "away" or not. Book your holiday and insist that they let you have it - unless of course others have booked for that time.

[ericsbrother]

follow the rules for booking and make then reply in writing in the correct time scale. You will find that just having to say no in writing is probably enough to make them think seriously how this will go for them if they dont have a good reason for refusal.