annual leave selections

the shark · Post by **the shark** » 15 Apr 2008, 17:13

Hello colleages,
How many posties out there experience problems with thier annual leave selections ??.
Question:which is the fairest way of picking annual leave, seniority,groups with rota's,

Post by **TrueBlueTerrier** » 15 Apr 2008, 17:15

Nope never in 5 years at Royal Mail - and IMHO seniority is fairest with local arrangements taken into account. However, you will find different opinions on here as this is a recurring thread.

DGP1 · Post by **DGP1** » 15 Apr 2008, 17:21

I've had terrible problems this year (I've only just got them sorted out 6 months late). As for which is the best system I'd go for rotas because then nobody gets what they want

and all the covers for certain duties can be off the same week

dounome · Post by **dounome** » 15 Apr 2008, 17:28

seniority doesnt exist in annual leave anymore, it only exists when duties become vacant.

antcpfc · Post by **antcpfc** » 15 Apr 2008, 20:47

dounome wrote:seniority doesnt exist in annual leave anymore, it only exists when duties become vacant.

Which is what we were told 3 years ago when they stopped it in our office.but plenty still have it for picking leave and good luck to them.

Spedley · Post by **Spedley** » 15 Apr 2008, 21:43

No, everyone in the office got their first four choices.

However, I wanted Saturday the 27th of December off (the saturday after christmas) but I can't have it ... apparently it is part of the 'Christmas pressure' :(

dongash · Post by **dongash** » 16 Apr 2008, 09:02

if you just want the odd couple of days off i would just go sick ( if your not on a stage!) from my own 16 years + experience honesty is not the best policy where days off are concerned!!! we had a previous manager who used to knock you back for your request and mark it in a book in case you did take it off!!!!! our present dom is not to bad. all in all royal mail has a very archaic way of dealing with holidays (and everything else!!!!)

Paul · Post by **Paul** » 16 Apr 2008, 13:24

dongash wrote:if you just want the odd couple of days off i would just go sick ( if your not on a stage!) from my own 16 years + experience honesty is not the best policy where days off are concerned!!! we had a previous manager who used to knock you back for your request and mark it in a book in case you did take it off!!!!! our present dom is not to bad. all in all royal mail has a very archaic way of dealing with holidays (and everything else!!!!)

Sorry I dont agree with taking sick days of when you are not sick, I have been fortunate enought to be sick free for over 5 years now. I do not condon sickness dishonesty. RM are getting hard with sickness abseneces do not make any easier for then, also sickness days of will cost us all money in one way or another. Erm .. Did someone on this forum suggest do the job right

madelin4 · Post by **madelin4** » 16 Apr 2008, 13:56

I agree, as you will not know when you will really need a sick day. I have been of sick and for some long spells also but i had gone 4 years with no sick but i was no better thought of. I think sometimes the ones who do have high sick are more thought of

Post by **TrueBlueTerrier** » 16 Apr 2008, 14:35

Spedley wrote:No, everyone in the office got their first four choices.

However, I wanted Saturday the 27th of December off (the saturday after christmas) but I can't have it ... apparently it is part of the 'Christmas pressure' :(

It is at ours as well - 3 weeks before and 1 week after IIRC.

Spedley · Post by **Spedley** » 16 Apr 2008, 20:43

Don't go sick, just phone up a claim your are 100 miles away and your car has broken down.
You should get an unaurthoised absence and be docked the days pay. In my books, that is fair on everyone (almost) :)

A couple of years ago RM gave us the saturday after Christmas off as an extra holiday but I doubt they'd do that now (Christmas day on Thursday) I have the week after Christmas off and having that Saturday would mean I can visit distant (a long way away) relatives for Christmas

alangate · Post by **alangate** » 16 Apr 2008, 21:04

madelin4 wrote:I agree, as you will not know when you will really need a sick day. I have been of sick and for some long spells also but i had gone 4 years with no sick but i was no better thought of. I think sometimes the ones who do have high sick are more thought of

Hi Mads
They seem to be.but the job has changed so much,and I don,t know what to make of things at times.

Darren Bent · Post by **Darren Bent** » 16 Apr 2008, 21:34

When I book my leave I tend to use 1 week in spring round floating week off ie March. So I can use this time to travel aboard and enjoy a bit of sun and spanish/italian football and avoid school holidays. 2 weeks in September/October to allow me have 3 weeks break to travel or whatever. I also have one week in May as well.

Downside is you don't know football fixtures until late July and Royal Mail want to book so far ahead it make it difficult. Another problem if you want to book 1 or 2 days off in peak time ie August you can't have it.

Good things is floating week off make things less frustrating. I find it is pointless booking time off in the winter as europe is cold mainly and it is not cheap to travel outside europe.

flipper · Post by **flipper** » 22 Apr 2008, 08:49

special leave

anyone got any ideas on how I might be able to take 3 months off unpaid (I've been given an opportunity to travel in NZ in 2009) My wife will have no problem with her employer but I'm not too confident that RM will allow me to do this in January 2009.I'd appreciate your DVICE

Albethere · Post by **Albethere** » 22 Apr 2008, 10:12

Has anyone thought of putting up a WANTED list on the notice board? Could simply list:-

Name / Leave dates WANTED / Leave dates OFFERED

Then get some dates swapped?

ROYALMAILCHAT

annual leave selections

annual leave selections

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