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Work holiday

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  • 13-01-2017 10:49am
    #1
    sambren
    Registered Users Posts: 16 ✭


    Can anyone give advice on an issue with work holidays. I've requested a week off but was refused for what I believe to be an invalid reason. Does my employer need to give me a valid reason? Am I entitled to a reason or can they refuse me without reasoning? I know I made it vague but I am unsure as to how much I'm allowed say on the thread


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    #2
    seamus
    Registered Users Posts: 68,317 ✭✭✭✭seamus


    They can refuse without any reason, but they do need to give due regard to:

    "(i) the need for the employee to reconcile work and any family responsibilities,

    (ii) the opportunities for rest and recreation available to the employee"

    So if you're requesting a week off on the basis that it lines up with some event you're going to take part in, or you're planning on taking the kids on holidays, then they can't just refuse for no reason.

    If you're just looking for a week off to do stuff that you could do at any other time, then the validity of their reason for refusal is irrelevant.


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    #3
    sambren
    Registered Users Posts: 16 ✭sambren


    seamus wrote: »
    So if you're requesting a week off on the basis that it lines up with some event you're going to take part in, or you're planning on taking the kids on holidays, then they can't just refuse for no reason.

    This is very helpful thank you for the information. A holiday was booked as a surprise and when I asked I was refused for a reason that is not written in the employee handbook, but it does say holidays must not be booked before being cleared by the GM


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    #4
    pilly
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 9,005 ✭✭✭pilly


    Are you taking the holidays at short notice?


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    #5
    sambren
    Registered Users Posts: 16 ✭sambren


    pilly wrote: »
    Are you taking the holidays at short notice?

    I'm requesting it 1.5 months from now. Only got the holiday form last week


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    #6
    pilly
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 9,005 ✭✭✭pilly


    sambren wrote: »
    I'm requesting it 1.5 months now. Only get holiday form last week

    I would think that's plenty of notice and very unfair of them to refuse. What was their reason?


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    #7
    silent_spark
    Registered Users Posts: 461 ✭✭silent_spark


    Is it a busy time at work? Are there other people on holiday at the same time? If it's neither it does seem a little unfair, but if there's something on at work that requires all hands on deck, or if other people have booked that time off then it would be reasonable not to give additional employees holiday leave at that time. Seems unusual that they've haven't discussed their reasoning with you.


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    #8
    sambren
    Registered Users Posts: 16 ✭sambren


    pilly wrote: »
    I would think that's plenty of notice and very unfair of them to refuse. What was their reason?

    The reason was that another employee from another department booked it off before me. Employee handbook states no two people from the SAME department can have holidays at the same time.


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    #9
    silent_spark
    Registered Users Posts: 461 ✭✭silent_spark


    sambren wrote: »
    The reason was that another employee from another department booked it off before me. Employee handbook states no two people from the SAME department can have holidays at the same time.

    Does someone from your department have to cover the work of the person from the other department while they're away?


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    #10
    pilly
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 9,005 ✭✭✭pilly


    sambren wrote: »
    The reason was that another employee from another department booked it off before me. Employee handbook states no two people from the SAME department can have holidays at the same time.

    Yeah it's a tough one alright. Not sure what you could do. Is there any negotiating with them, like if you do some stuff before you go that will cover the period you're not there?


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    #11
    sambren
    Registered Users Posts: 16 ✭sambren


    silent_spark wrote: »
    Does someone from your department have to cover the work of the person from the other department while they're away?

    No there will be other staff to cover their shift.


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    #12
    sambren
    Registered Users Posts: 16 ✭sambren


    pilly wrote: »
    Yeah it's a tough one alright. Not sure what you could do. Is there any negotiating with them, like if you do some stuff before you go that will cover the period you're not there?

    I've done all the overtime I could do over the Christmas. It's not busy now for overtime to be given


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    #13
    silent_spark
    Registered Users Posts: 461 ✭✭silent_spark


    sambren wrote: »
    No there will be other staff to cover their shift.

    That does seem a little unfair, then. Maybe offer to work later in the year when they have trouble getting cover, perhaps at a time other people dislike working? I'm not sure of your industry, but if you offer to cover bank holiday weekends, late nights etc., in tandem with an explanation that it was a gift, they might change their mind. It is their prerogative when you take holidays, but most employers are flexible when they can be.


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    #14
    pilly
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 9,005 ✭✭✭pilly


    sambren wrote: »
    I've done all the overtime I could do over the Christmas. It's not busy now for overtime to be given

    Not really sure what the solution is then if it's not busy at the moment. Is it a case of you're on the phones?


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    #15
    sambren
    Registered Users Posts: 16 ✭sambren


    silent_spark wrote: »
    That does seem a little unfair, then. Maybe offer to work later in the year when they have trouble getting cover, perhaps at a time other people dislike working? I'm not sure of your industry, but if you offer to cover bank holiday weekends, late nights etc., in tandem with an explanation that it was a gift, they might change their mind. It is their prerogative when you take holidays, but most employers are flexible when they can be.

    Thanks for the help you've given great advise. I'll try plead with them hopefully they'll give it


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    #16
    sambren
    Registered Users Posts: 16 ✭sambren


    pilly wrote: »
    Not really sure what the solution is then if it's not busy at the moment. Is it a case of you're on the phones?

    No not on phones. The other employee is though


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    #17
    pilly
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 9,005 ✭✭✭pilly


    sambren wrote: »
    No not on phones. The other employee is though

    It seems they're being very unfair then. It's not a case of calls not being answered or anything.


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    #18
    Shelflife
    Registered Users Posts: 3,074 ✭✭✭Shelflife


    It could simply be that the employers doesnt want to set a precedent where two employees are allowed holidays on the same day as it means that cover is then thread bare in the event of another employee being sick.


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    #19
    Wanderer2010
    Registered Users Posts: 6,740 ✭✭✭Wanderer2010


    When they next look for a favour or some overtime OP, tell them you are busy or you cant commit to anything. Respect works both ways.


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    #20
    Mrs OBumble
    Registered Users Posts: 25,970 ✭✭✭✭Mrs OBumble


    sambren wrote: »
    I'm requesting it 1.5 months from now. Only got the holiday form last week

    In some companies leave has to be bookef a year in advance.

    Whether 1.5 months is a lot or not depends on company size and policies.


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    #21
    listermint
    Registered Users Posts: 33,976 ✭✭✭✭listermint


    Mrs OBumble wrote: »
    In some companies leave has to be bookef a year in advance.

    Whether 1.5 months is a lot or not depends on company size and policies.

    Yep they are the companies that can't keep staff.


    A year. Hilarious.


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