Annual Leave - mandatory 2 week block

budhabob

Hi folks,

Recently my employer has changed our Annual Leave policy to include a section that a 2 week block is mandatory - this causes alot of stress for some of the team re kids / summer holidays and flexibility. I am aware that it is recommended to take a 2 week break (which I fully agree with) but I would be of a view it is up to staff how they take leave - can any advise?

I am aware of the below extract from the Working Time Act:

(3) The annual leave of an employee who works 8 or more months in a leave year shall, subject to the provisions of any employment regulation order, registered employment agreement, collective agreement or any agreement between the employee and his or her employer, include an unbroken period of 2 weeks.

Thanks

thebiglad

I work in Financial services and have always had this in my contracts.

It makes management of holidays easier for employer but also, if I am running dodgy transactions it's 2 weeks I don't have access to company systems of so increases chance of detection.

During the 2 week absence I have give up my company phone and laptop computer too - that does not apply to any other holidays taken from my allowance.

Riskymove

https://www.workplacerelations.ie/en/what_you_should_know/leave/annual-leave/

The employer determines the timing of an employee’s annual leave, taking into consideration work and personal requirements and should consult him/her or the relevant union in advance

Oscar_Madison

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122145787#Comment_122145787

Yep many an internal fraud was uncovered when the person was forced to take 2 consecutive weeks annual leave

Mrs OBumble

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058351921/annual-leave-mandatory-2-week-block

You've pretty much included the answer right there: leave "shall include an unbroken 2 week period".

Not may or might.

budhabob

Thanks folks. Citizens Information frames it as an entitlement when an employee requests it, not a mandatory period staff must take.

C3PO

My understanding is that an employer can mandate when an employee takes holidays - for example the traditional first two weeks of August “Builders Holidays”.

Jim2007

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122146628#Comment_122146628

Here ya go from the WRC website:

The employer determines the timing of an employee’s annual leave, taking into consideration work and personal requirements and should consult him/her or the relevant union in advance. Pay for the leave must be given in advance and calculated at the employee’s normal weekly rate
https://www.workplacerelations.ie/en/what_you_should_know/leave/annual-leave/#:~:text=The%20employer%20determines%20the%20timing,the%20employee's%20normal%20weekly%20rate.

Mandatory holiday periods and blocks are common in the manufacturing and financial sector for example.

Mrs OBumble

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122146628#Comment_122146628

The easiest way for an employer to stop that entitlement being withheld from anyone (eg by local manager being a brat) is to require it of everyone.

And that has bonus effects of fraud detection, and mental health improvements for employees who get a total disconnect for a sustained period.

budhabob

I totally get the benefits, but there are negatives too re flexibility when leave entitlements are not that wonderful to begin with.

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Oscar_Madison

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122150898#Comment_122150898

I wasnt being at all sarcastic - I’ve see. It happen all too often