Forced days off

PurpleBerry

(I apologise if this should be in Work Problems)

Our company gives us 20 days annual leave a year. But we only get to choose 13 of those days, the other 7 have to be kept for company leave (Christmas, Good Friday etc) This is actually annoying as I plan to take a holiday (my first ever!) in September and the company will be closed for a while in August.

Can I take some days off in September at my own expense? Has anyone ever done this before? Would I be able to choose what paycheque the money is deducted from or would it be the relevant month? (in this case September)


.

Serafijn

Unpaid leave is not normally an entitlement unless it's exceptional circumstances, but some employers will let you do it. If you do take the days unpaid it will come off the relevant month's salary.

In the current climate however your boss might be happy to save a few pennies by not having to pay you for a few days, or you might be able to make up the hours in overtime before you go.

You really need to just talk to your boss, explain that it really means a lot to you to be able to go away and that you're flexible in the ways and means of getting around the holiday allowance issue. If they are reasonable they will at least try to come to some kind of compromise.

AARRRGH

Both the ability to take unpaid leave and the option to choose what paycheck it comes out of is entirely up to your employer.

Eoin

Neesa wrote: »

Our company gives us 20 days annual leave a year. But we only get to choose 13 of those days, the other 7 have to be kept for company leave (Christmas, Good Friday etc) This is actually annoying as I plan to take a holiday (my first ever!) in September and the company will be closed for a while in August.

That is about as scabby as I have seen, but dublindude is correct - it's totally up to your employer.

Are you on a permanent contract? You could ask if the days could be taken out of next year's allocation.

dade

my place shuts over Christmas too so i loose 3 days from my leave a year, but i don't mind it too much coz it means i get all the holidays off. but forced leave at other times in the year would annoy the hell out of me.

Eoin

dade wrote: »

my place shuts over Christmas too so i loose 3 days from my leave a year, but i don't mind it too much coz it means i get all the holidays off. but forced leave at other times in the year would annoy the hell out of me.

It's more the volume of enforced days in this case. 7 days out of the statutory 20 days is pretty mean.

Climate Expert

Leave in my opinion is a close second to salary when it comes to the worth of your job.

That is about as mean as it gets. I would either
1. Leave and get a better job
2. Take lots of sick days

PurpleBerry

Thanks for all the replies guys. I had a feeling that it would be completely up to the employer. I'm nearly certain that they've done it for other employees in the past so it would probably be possible but maybe things have changed since last year.

Taking the days out of next years isn't the best option, I'd rather pay my dues now and be square rather than being behind. Plus, if I was to leave then I'd end up owing them money.

Climate Expert - I certainly like your idea. And I'll have those few days in August to go job-hunting! I'd be a bit worried about asking a new employer to honour my holidays. But if I did get it sorted out before I go it would mean a more stress-free holiday.


.

RoryW

http://www.employmentrights.ie/en/informationforemployees/annualleave/

Annual Leave and Public Holidays

All employees, full-time, part-time, temporary or casual earn annual leave entitlements from the time they start work. Most employees are entitled to four weeks’ paid annual leave per leave year.

Your employer determines the timing of your annual leave, taking into consideration work and personal requirements and should consult you or your union in advance. Pay for the leave must be given in advance and calculated at the normal weekly rate.

Public Holidays
There are nine public holidays each year:

New Year’s Day
St. Patrick’s Day
Easter Monday
The first Monday in May
The first Monday in June
The first Monday in August
The last Monday in October
Christmas Day
St. Stephen’s Day

If the holiday falls on a day on which you normally work, you are entitled to either:

A paid day off on the holiday
A paid day off within a month
An extra day’s pay
An extra day’s annual leave

If the public holiday falls on a day on which you do not normally work, then you are entitled to one fifth of your normal weekly wage for that day.

If you are asked to work on the public holiday, then you are entitled to either;

An additional day’s pay
A paid day off within a month of the day
An additional day of paid annual leave
Part-time employees qualify for public holiday entitlement provided they have worked at least 40 hours during the five weeks ending on the day before a public holiday.

For further information download our guide to Holidays and Public Holidays

Follow the link to the Working Time Act.

kelle

I get 6 weeks annual leave per year, but I rarely get to take it when I want it. We are made to take one week in May/June, 2 weeks in July/August and to ensure only one week is left before Christmas. This is because we are a small department and we need to ensure not too many staff are off at once.
It's a pain, but I suppose I'm used to it by now and it helps only being on a 3-day week.

homah_7ft

"An employee who has worked for at least 8 months is entitled to an unbroken period of 2 weeks' annual leave".

Are you getting 2 weeks together at any time throughout the year?

PurpleBerry

No, I've never had 10 working days off in a row. It would suit me more though to have 7 at the start of September and the other 3 at the start of October.

(I'm only going for a week-long holiday at the start of Sept and a weekend at the end. But I'd like to make it a long weekend because it's a bit special)

I probably should have mentioned this because it might matter. I work in an office. Maybe I'm being greedy, it's just that I'd rather work those days in August and take them off after my weekend away. But the office will be closed so that's not an option. If I want to take them I will have to pay for the privilege.


.

watna

Neesa, every time I've started a new jopb I've had holidays booked. You just let them know at the interview stage that you have holidays booked between x and y dates and is that a problem?

I would imagine very few places would say it was a problem so it shouldn't interfere with job hunting if you wanted to move before September.

Taking 7 days out of your 20 is extrememly scabby and far above the norm. With most places it would only be 2 or 3 days. I've had places where we had to take 4 days off over Christmas because the office was closed but they only took 1.5 days out of our annual leave entitlement so as not to leave you with too few days left.

snellers

hopefully good old Karma will come and bite these companies on the backside!

when jobs become more available in the future these companies will end up with a revolution on their hands with half the workforce leaving for better conditions!

I understand companies have to try and reduce costs in the current climate but pushing the boundaries up to the very, very edge of what is allowed really won't earn them any friends in the long term. I have heard of many 'tight' companies with regards to holidays but only 13 days every year IMO is taking the ****!

homah_7ft

Neesa wrote: »

No, I've never had 10 working days off in a row. It would suit me more though to have 7 at the start of September and the other 3 at the start of October.

(I'm only going for a week-long holiday at the start of Sept and a weekend at the end. But I'd like to make it a long weekend because it's a bit special)

I probably should have mentioned this because it might matter. I work in an office. Maybe I'm being greedy, it's just that I'd rather work those days in August and take them off after my weekend away. But the office will be closed so that's not an option. If I want to take them I will have to pay for the privilege.


.

If you are there longer than 8 months then they are not following proper employment procedures in my opinion.

"If you are not getting your holiday entitlement you may make a complaint to a Rights Commissioner under the Organisation of Working Time Act 1997 using the Rights Commissioner application form" http://www.lrc.ie/documents/work/newforms/OrgWorkingTimeAct.pdf

PurpleBerry

I'm there just about 8 months, by September it'll be 10 months.

The only reason I'm concerned about the holidays I want to take is because there are two seperate chunks. A week and a bit at the start of September and then two or three days in early October.

But I'm probably worrying about nothing. I'm sure employers would understand, easpecially the longer one. And the other little break I want to take is only a day or two.


.

homah_7ft

Going on my own experience it should be no problem for you to take these days. Good luck with it and enjoy your holiday.

Ardnas

Hi. Our company closes every year on Good Friday. We have never been informed that this should come out of our annual leave or we have never been given the option to work the day. It has now come to light that it is being taken from our annual leave every year. (don't ask me how we missed this previous years) It is in our contracts that we must retain 4 days for the Christmas shutdown but nothing about Good Friday!! Anyone know if this is right or if they decide to close down for the day should it not be taken from annual leave? Thanks!!

Climate Expert

Ardnas wrote: »

Hi. Our company closes every year on Good Friday. We have never been informed that this should come out of our annual leave or we have never been given the option to work the day. It has now come to light that it is being taken from our annual leave every year. (don't ask me how we missed this previous years) It is in our contracts that we must retain 4 days for the Christmas shutdown but nothing about Good Friday!! Anyone know if this is right or if they decide to close down for the day should it not be taken from annual leave? Thanks!!

If its not in the contract then you can ask them back for the days you made you miss.

Ardnas

Great thanks. No definitely not our contracts. Just want to check where I stand before making one!!

Leeby

Ardnas, As far as I know it's up to your emplyer when you take holidays and they can make you take any days they want.

http://www.citizensinformation.ie/categories/employment/employment-rights-and-conditions/leave-and-holidays/annual_leave_public_holidays