Work forcing you to take holiday

SidewinderINC · 30-03-2012, 08:24

Hi all,

Quick query on holiday and what your workplace are allowed to do.

I know it's not even April yet, but my company has given out a notice about Christmas holiday.

As Christmas eve falls on a Monday they have decided to close the site on that day for various reasons.

They have said "you must book this day as holiday"

Are they allowed to do this? I was planning on working as I live pretty close to work so it wouldn't make a difference to me and I was going to use my holiday at other times.

Any info or experience of this situation would be great

Cheers

Matt.

Mark · 30-03-2012, 09:10

Yes, an employer is entitled to tell you when you can (or must) take your holiday. Office shutdowns over Christmas are commonplace (my place has done exactly the same for a few years now).

Often you'll find that there's a defined leave/holiday policy, but they don't have to.

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Employme...ys/DG_10029788

Kitten · 30-03-2012, 11:01

Yes, as Mark said, they certainly are. I wish they'd do that to me, I'm never allowed to take Christmas Eve as holiday and it's my FRIGGING BIRTHDAY!

Knipples · 30-03-2012, 12:35

We have to keep holiday for Christmas because they shut the project down over all the bank holidays etc.

vix · 30-03-2012, 12:40

Yeah our place has just announced it will be closed from Xmas eve.

Kitten · 30-03-2012, 14:24

Most annoying thing is that the business we support shuts down entirely. However they pay us to support them, so we have to be there regardless!

SidewinderINC · 31-03-2012, 09:32

Thanks all

they've announced a full shut down it seems. Annoying because I really don't mind working over Christmas.

Zirax · 31-03-2012, 09:55

Quote:

Originally Posted by SidewinderINC

Thanks all

they've announced a full shut down it seems. Annoying because I really don't mind working over Christmas.

Quite a few do this. I'll be trying to come in the 24th, 27th and 28th. No managers, nothing to do, but it is all for cover for the business over xmas

jmc41 · 02-04-2012, 13:56

Our policy is 20+3 days with 3 being the "xmas shut down".

That said last time it fell on a Monday they gave everyone the day off; not too sure the same thing will follow this time though :s

I normally do the on-call thing, it's great, no work and I get lieu time!

divine · 02-04-2012, 18:26

I lose about 8 days a year of my holiday via enforced shutdown periods, usually xmas and then also things like the week in July this year (i think it's July) where you can get a week off using 3 days holiday due to helpfully placed bank holidays so they just shut down rather than have everyone fight over who gets to take it off.

30-03-2012, 08:24	#1
SidewinderINC Joey Tempest Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Gravesend. Posts: 2,751	Work forcing you to take holiday Hi all, Quick query on holiday and what your workplace are allowed to do. I know it's not even April yet, but my company has given out a notice about Christmas holiday. As Christmas eve falls on a Monday they have decided to close the site on that day for various reasons. They have said "you must book this day as holiday" Are they allowed to do this? I was planning on working as I live pretty close to work so it wouldn't make a difference to me and I was going to use my holiday at other times. Any info or experience of this situation would be great Cheers Matt. __________________ No Sig.

30-03-2012, 11:01	#3
Kitten Spinky-Spank Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: 668. The Neighbour of the Beast Posts: 11,226	Yes, as Mark said, they certainly are. I wish they'd do that to me, I'm never allowed to take Christmas Eve as holiday and it's my FRIGGING BIRTHDAY! __________________ "You only get one life. There's no God, no rules, except for those you accept or create for yourself. Then once it's over... it's over. Dreamless sleep for ever and ever. So why not be happy while you're here?" Nate Fisher

30-03-2012, 12:40	#5
vix Penelope Pitstop Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 4,426	Yeah our place has just announced it will be closed from Xmas eve. __________________

30-03-2012, 14:24	#6
Kitten Spinky-Spank Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: 668. The Neighbour of the Beast Posts: 11,226	Most annoying thing is that the business we support shuts down entirely. However they pay us to support them, so we have to be there regardless! __________________ "You only get one life. There's no God, no rules, except for those you accept or create for yourself. Then once it's over... it's over. Dreamless sleep for ever and ever. So why not be happy while you're here?" Nate Fisher

31-03-2012, 09:32	#7
SidewinderINC Joey Tempest Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Gravesend. Posts: 2,751	Thanks all they've announced a full shut down it seems. Annoying because I really don't mind working over Christmas. __________________ No Sig.

30-03-2012, 09:10	#2
Mark Screaming Orgasm Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Newbury Posts: 15,194	Yes, an employer is entitled to tell you when you can (or must) take your holiday. Office shutdowns over Christmas are commonplace (my place has done exactly the same for a few years now). Often you'll find that there's a defined leave/holiday policy, but they don't have to. http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Employme...ys/DG_10029788

02-04-2012, 13:56	#9
jmc41 Absinthe Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 1,070	Our policy is 20+3 days with 3 being the "xmas shut down". That said last time it fell on a Monday they gave everyone the day off; not too sure the same thing will follow this time though :s I normally do the on-call thing, it's great, no work and I get lieu time!

02-04-2012, 18:26	#10
divine Moonshine Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Southampton Posts: 3,201	I lose about 8 days a year of my holiday via enforced shutdown periods, usually xmas and then also things like the week in July this year (i think it's July) where you can get a week off using 3 days holiday due to helpfully placed bank holidays so they just shut down rather than have everyone fight over who gets to take it off. __________________