Annual Leave

[smartecosse]

So...............

Started a few months ago and so far really enjoying the job.

However, we have just been told that the annual leave for next year will be "assigned" shortly.

Assigned? They must have forgotten to put that in the job description, getting given completely random dates for time off is useless as I've children.

Its 2019, the DO office has less than 30 staff, surely there is a better way than just assigning annual leave randomly without actually asking people when they would like to be off? Or is that how its done right across the RM?

[SpacePhoenix]

For a given shift there's a cap on the number of people who can be on annual leave. The leave ceilings are normally agreed between the CWU rep and management, it'll be partly based in the average workload for a given week over the processing years. Leave ceilings are normally higher in the summer due to it being quieter.

Each office will have s lightly different method but I believe as common method is to for a given shift, divide the staff into groups. Everyone puts in what they want. If there's too many for a shift Year 1 group 1 gets 1st choice. The next year group 1 goes to the back and group 2 gets first choice.

They normally do the whole weeks first then deal with the odd days a little later. It's all supposed to be sorted by October but it never is

[mattjo1@talktalk.net]

So...............

Started a few months ago and so far really enjoying the job.

However, we have just been told that the annual leave for next year will be "assigned" shortly.

Assigned? They must have forgotten to put that in the job description, getting given completely random dates for time off is useless as I've children.

Its 2019, the DO office has less than 30 staff, surely there is a better way than just assigning annual leave randomly without actually asking people when they would like to be off? Or is that how its done right across the RM?

So you expect to have all school holidays off, there are other people in the same situation as you and they make other arrangements.

[ted_e_bear]

It won't just be assigned unless you're in an office where they have set blocks that rotate yearly they probably meant the leave pick will be started soon, might be easier to ask one of your colleagues/manager how they allocate leave than asking on here.

[LittleEmm]

I’ve not been with RM that long but was under the impression at my DO that there are two leave “picks” during the year with the first coming up soon. You put in a holiday request for up to three choices of leave in order of priority and then it’s decided by management as to who gets what as there are obviously caps on dates etc. However I had been advised that leave is allocated on a seniority basis so as a new start I’m unlikely to get first or second choices. The same goes for the second pick.
This will not cover all holidays dates throughout the year so there will still be limited availability for dates that you may be able to take if the need arises so you don’t need to book up all holidays during these picks but if you want a certain week to go away etc or an event this is the time to book it. Do not book any holidays before leave us authorised as I’ve been told people have ended up cancelling holidays when leave not authorised. I may be wrong but this is how it’s been explained to me? Also no holidays in December! I to have children and ended up having a random useless week in June and one booked for November as that was all that was left this holiday yr.

[k979aaa]

Years ago you could have any day week you wanted but not now the only good thing for you is the full time staff leaving the sinking ship will vacate a leave slot for you but it is a temporary hope as you are still in the sinking ship!

[SpacePhoenix]

Doing leave purely by seniority is illegal. Your office probably has everyone divided into leave groups.

December is Christmas Pressure, when there has always been a blanket ban on leave

[smartecosse]

So...............

Started a few months ago and so far really enjoying the job.

However, we have just been told that the annual leave for next year will be "assigned" shortly.

Assigned? They must have forgotten to put that in the job description, getting given completely random dates for time off is useless as I've children.

Its 2019, the DO office has less than 30 staff, surely there is a better way than just assigning annual leave randomly without actually asking people when they would like to be off? Or is that how its done right across the RM?

So you expect to have all school holidays off, there are other people in the same situation as you and they make other arrangements.

Did I say that I expected all school holidays off? No I didn't.

Over the course of the year there are lots of school holidays.......my point was that if there isn't going to be any choice at all as to when you can get your leave then it's an archaic situation and also something that should be mentioned when you are being hired especially when you are applying for a part time position so that you can look after young children after school hours.

[smartecosse]

I'll try and clarify if there is any form of "picking" in the process but that wasn't mentioned the other day.

Thanks for the replies.

[mattjo1@talktalk.net]

So...............

Started a few months ago and so far really enjoying the job.

However, we have just been told that the annual leave for next year will be "assigned" shortly.

Assigned? They must have forgotten to put that in the job description, getting given completely random dates for time off is useless as I've children.

Its 2019, the DO office has less than 30 staff, surely there is a better way than just assigning annual leave randomly without actually asking people when they would like to be off? Or is that how its done right across the RM?

So you expect to have all school holidays off, there are other people in the same situation as you and they make other arrangements.

Did I say that I expected all school holidays off? No I didn't.

Over the course of the year there are lots of school holidays.......my point was that if there isn't going to be any choice at all as to when you can get your leave then it's an archaic situation and also something that should be mentioned when you are being hired especially when you are applying for a part time position so that you can look after young children after school hours.

The business is here to make money for the share holders not child care.

[TrueBlueTerrier]

So...............

Started a few months ago and so far really enjoying the job.

However, we have just been told that the annual leave for next year will be "assigned" shortly.

Assigned? They must have forgotten to put that in the job description, getting given completely random dates for time off is useless as I've children.

Its 2019, the DO office has less than 30 staff, surely there is a better way than just assigning annual leave randomly without actually asking people when they would like to be off? Or is that how its done right across the RM?

So you expect to have all school holidays off, there are other people in the same situation as you and they make other arrangements.

In any debate we would call that a straw man argument and deflection. You addressed a point he made about children and extrapolated to the worst case possible.

Also, although you don't seem to like it, RMCs ethos is not to attack a poster, but to answer his queries politely as possible. If you have an issue with a particular stance - like people wanting all of Summer off - then start a new thread. Please don't take threads off-topic just because you want to make a point on a particular issue, especially if you offer no advice.

[mattjo1@talktalk.net]

Its called freedom of speech look it up.

We live in a country where you can air your views, but it sounds like you cant on here.

[clashcityrocker]

We live in a country where you can air your views

Are you really so naive?

[Postie45]

Its called freedom of speech look it up.

We live in a country where you can air your views, but it sounds like you cant on here.

:no no :no no :no no

there is not true freedom of speech on a private messageboard, the mods have the right to delete, edit or ban who they like, when they like for whatever reason they like ie its a privilege not a right to post on RMC. The fact that they have left your posts unedited gives you no reason to whine about "freedom of speech" maybe you need to look up what this actually means. It doesnt mean you get to say what you like unchallenged, the people with an alternative view also have the freedom of speech to counter and this seems to be what you have a problem with.

To the OP, RM is strange in that so many offices do things very differently, I find it very strange that all holiday weeks are being allocated with no choice at all, would like to know what your rep is doing about this, id bring it up with them or an area rep.

[mattjo1@talktalk.net]

We live in a country where you can air your views

Are you really so naive?

Not naïve, just tired of some from the CWU with out dated views who will drive the company into the ground and the members out of jobs.