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What's the policy of day off choice when rest day falls on Xmas day?

Postal workers discussion forum. Discuss the day to day life in a Blue Shirt.
hewittinspain
EX ROYAL MAIL
Posts: 264
Joined: 20 May 2013, 21:24
Gender: Male

What's the policy of day off choice when rest day falls on Xmas day?

Post by hewittinspain »

Day off was Xmas day and it seems like it's already been credited back to my annual leave but I'm aware that I can choose another day off as an option. If I ask my manager to give me any Saturday off, in January or February (as long as it's not my rest day) then what is the """official""" policy regarding this and what he's supposed to do? I will clarify it with my rep once he's back off leave.
I'm not interested in that they can do what they want, I just want to know what are supposed to be entitled to?
Hitcher
Posts: 1460
Joined: 20 Sep 2009, 09:59
Gender: Male

Re: What's the policy of day off choice when rest day falls on Xmas day?

Post by Hitcher »

You're only allowed it if they can cover it.

This is why I always take it as overtime because when I first asked for a Saturday off they couldn't cover it.
yellowbelly
Posts: 3626
Joined: 23 Jun 2015, 15:51
Gender: Male

Re: What's the policy of day off choice when rest day falls on Xmas day?

Post by yellowbelly »

hewittinspain wrote:
04 Jan 2026, 10:00
Day off was Xmas day and it seems like it's already been credited back to my annual leave but I'm aware that I can choose another day off as an option. If I ask my manager to give me any Saturday off, in January or February (as long as it's not my rest day) then what is the """official""" policy regarding this and what he's supposed to do? I will clarify it with my rep once he's back off leave.
I'm not interested in that they can do what they want, I just want to know what are supposed to be entitled to?
Where a rest day falls on a Bank Holiday (i.e. on 25th, 26th December, 1st January (& 2nd
January in Scotland) and it is not operationally sensible to transfer the rest day to
another day in the same week, people will receive an additional day holiday (including
those working ‘a week off in six’ or other variations on this theme) in the form of a day
in lieu or alternatively the excess hours can be taken as normal overtime.
If you get credited the time, it doesn't mean you can demand it's a certain day, it becomes like any other day off request - if a space is available it may be granted subject to the whims of local managers.
postmanplod2025
Posts: 99
Joined: 03 Jun 2025, 17:07
Gender: Male

Re: What's the policy of day off choice when rest day falls on Xmas day?

Post by postmanplod2025 »

u could demand u get paid it if u dont want the day off in lieu
Jonathan Alsatian
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Joined: 10 Oct 2024, 21:00
Gender: Male

Re: What's the policy of day off choice when rest day falls on Xmas day?

Post by Jonathan Alsatian »

postmanplod2025 wrote:
07 Jan 2026, 21:33
u could demand u get paid it if u dont want the day off in lieu
I've tried that twice and got absolutely nowhere with it. They said they'd see if it was at all possible but that they doubted it would be. Then without any further mention a holiday credit appeared on my leave entitlement in the app as if the decision was made regardless of my request.
funkflex55
Posts: 689
Joined: 04 Sep 2022, 22:58
Gender: Male

Re: What's the policy of day off choice when rest day falls on Xmas day?

Post by funkflex55 »

Jonathan Alsatian wrote:
08 Jan 2026, 17:54
postmanplod2025 wrote:
07 Jan 2026, 21:33
u could demand u get paid it if u dont want the day off in lieu
I've tried that twice and got absolutely nowhere with it. They said they'd see if it was at all possible but that they doubted it would be. Then without any further mention a holiday credit appeared on my leave entitlement in the app as if the decision was made regardless of my request.
.

I thought official policy was that it's choice between a day in lieu or getting it as paid overtime. There shouldn't be any argument in that case and you should be able to choose what suits you best. For me, every single f***ing bank holiday is my rest day and personally I don't want a day in lieu or to be paid. I'd rather a 4 day week.
Jonathan Alsatian
Posts: 98
Joined: 10 Oct 2024, 21:00
Gender: Male

Re: What's the policy of day off choice when rest day falls on Xmas day?

Post by Jonathan Alsatian »

Well call me cynical but if they apply it as overtime to people on new contracts it might push their hours above 40 where the time and a quarter rate kicks in therefore costing the business an extra 25% compared to offering it as a day off. Annoying and another example of shitty treatment of staff.
Hitcher
Posts: 1460
Joined: 20 Sep 2009, 09:59
Gender: Male

Re: What's the policy of day off choice when rest day falls on Xmas day?

Post by Hitcher »

Jonathan Alsatian wrote:
08 Jan 2026, 20:03
Well call me cynical but if they apply it as overtime to people on new contracts it might push their hours above 40 where the time and a quarter rate kicks in therefore costing the business an extra 25% compared to offering it as a day off. Annoying and another example of shitty treatment of staff.
How would it put them over 40 hours if they were meant to be working on that day anyway?
Smoothbackground
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Joined: 21 Sep 2023, 20:01
Gender: Female

Re: What's the policy of day off choice when rest day falls on Xmas day?

Post by Smoothbackground »

Jonathan Alsatian wrote:
08 Jan 2026, 20:03
Well call me cynical but if they apply it as overtime to people on new contracts it might push their hours above 40 where the time and a quarter rate kicks in therefore costing the business an extra 25% compared to offering it as a day off. Annoying and another example of shitty treatment of staff.
I’d rather have the day back in lieu, but every time they pay me 8 hours of OT at the 1.25 rate instead. Seems generous, except a day’s leave in lieu — to book and use when suits me — would be preferred. Losing out on over a week’s extra leave in lieu days to spend on the loo!
Jonathan Alsatian
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Joined: 10 Oct 2024, 21:00
Gender: Male

Re: What's the policy of day off choice when rest day falls on Xmas day?

Post by Jonathan Alsatian »

Hitcher wrote:
09 Jan 2026, 08:09
Jonathan Alsatian wrote:
08 Jan 2026, 20:03
Well call me cynical but if they apply it as overtime to people on new contracts it might push their hours above 40 where the time and a quarter rate kicks in therefore costing the business an extra 25% compared to offering it as a day off. Annoying and another example of shitty treatment of staff.
How would it put them over 40 hours if they were meant to be working on that day anyway?
Because they weren't meant to be working that day. It's a lieu day because someones day off (rest day) fell on a bank holiday meaning they worked a day that they shouldn't have. A holiday credit does not increase the wage bill but giving it as overtime does.
Hitcher
Posts: 1460
Joined: 20 Sep 2009, 09:59
Gender: Male

Re: What's the policy of day off choice when rest day falls on Xmas day?

Post by Hitcher »

Jonathan Alsatian wrote:
10 Jan 2026, 22:07
Hitcher wrote:
09 Jan 2026, 08:09
Jonathan Alsatian wrote:
08 Jan 2026, 20:03
Well call me cynical but if they apply it as overtime to people on new contracts it might push their hours above 40 where the time and a quarter rate kicks in therefore costing the business an extra 25% compared to offering it as a day off. Annoying and another example of shitty treatment of staff.
How would it put them over 40 hours if they were meant to be working on that day anyway?
Because they weren't meant to be working that day. It's a lieu day because someones day off (rest day) fell on a bank holiday meaning they worked a day that they shouldn't have. A holiday credit does not increase the wage bill but giving it as overtime does.
Brain fart moment. :roll: