Holiday allocation and cover?

[Terry Butcher]

I'm just curious as to what RM's official stance is on holiday allocation and cover. Why does the company seem to have such a problem giving people holiday that they want? After all, holiday leave has to be covered by other members of staff in any job, so that is a weak excuse. I ask because i have had no say whatsoever on what holiday i have been given, i handed in my form but was given completely random weeks, and last month i fought a running battle for over a week to get just 2 days holiday (within my entitlement). I'm a part timer who has been at RM for nearly two years, and i didn't expect to get every week i applied for. I understand that full timers who have been here for years get priority but, that shouldn't mean i (and others in the same boat as me) have to basically beg to choose just two days leave. Why is it such a difficult task for RM when other companies allow leave to their employees pretty much whenever they want? It's just a bit annoying how i can't plan for anything (on different walks each week so day off always changes) or even get time off for unexpected events like funerals etc etc. Could anyone shed an light on the subject?

[TrueBlueTerrier]

As I understand it leave selection and the amount of slots available is usually a local agreement. It certainly seems that way as there are so many different methods of selection talked about on here.

[mclovin]

I book a holiday before the dom support sorts the holiday cover out, then tell him the dates and bang, the jobs a good un.

Never mind this rolling weeks malarkey.

[TeeferTiger]

I got sent my form to the office I was at for the time being. Apparently I was third on the list and I returned the sheet within 2 days of receiving it (bearing in mind I was working over 30 miles away), and ALL my holiday was allocated for me.

"Luckily" I then shifted on a temporarily permanent basis so my holidays aren't an issue. I think it was done by that manager I had an issue with though so that explains that...

[countyboy]

I remember the halcyon days of a few months ago when I started and I spent a few weeks on the same walk ( no doubt to lull me into a false sense of security !!) I even had a Saturday and a Monday off once Ah those were the days eh !!

I thought I might be able to plan a weekend away.... WRONG !!!

I even thought by giving 5 months notice I might get a weeks holiday off with my kids in August !! WRONG !!!

I thought I might get a Saturday off every so often...WRONG !!!

Yes I know,,im a Part Timer,,lucky to have a job, you know where the door is etc etc..On the plus side its still better than the dole or pushing trollys at Tesco or indeed being asked by some 12 year old at the Job Centre how my job search is going ?,,,Its a JOB,,,but "Great place to work" Well it might be in some areas but in the words of Jim Royle : "My arse" !!!

Sorry,,,rant over....

[Terry Butcher]

Also, how can you know for sure what weeks you want (or even need) off later in the year/early next year when the forms are handed in in February? The system RM uses (I'm presuming there's a system?!) doesn't allow for any flexibility whatsoever, sod's law is you make an educated guess on the best week for you, and then your friends book a foreign holiday the week AFTER the one you asked for, because they asked their bosses nicely and they nicely gave it to them. . It's kind of a moot point anyway because you don't get the weeks you ask for in the first place! Shouldn't holiday be a basic human right?, you only get 22 days and that isn't nearly enough time considering someone basically tells you when you have it. You are still tied to your job even in the short time you are allowed to get away from it. It's relentless...

[onearmedbandit]

Pick holidays in groups of 6 at our office. Never had problem with what weeks wanted off, as long as no one else in your group wants same week. Must be lucky

[daveallum]

Just had to reply to this one,I paid for extra holiday so get 6 weeks off a year.Last October our DOM handed out the forms for the 2010/2011 holiday entitlement and I made my choice,fair enough I did get 5 out of the six I wanted,at that time I was (and still am) entitled to 3 Bank Holiday lieu days which I made a request to have off over the weekend of Sept 11th-13th 2010 (thats 11 months notice).DOM at that time said I couldn't have those three days due to lack of staff cover,DOM left in Jan of this year so put in request again,same reply but would look into it.At this time have not had an answer and its now getting to the stage where if they said yes it would be too late and expensive to book the flights and hotel

I've have also made requests for long weekends on two separate occassions and each time have given about 5 months notice,the first one was for a family wedding in June,got the go ahead only 10 days before the event,the second one is for a family birthday in October which involves a weekend in Blackpool,have booked the hotel but at this time have not been given the go ahead.As previously stated I still have those 3 lieu days to take which RM seem reluctent to give and by the way the 6th week which I didn't get was reallocated to w/c 30th August 2010,yes you've guessed it,thats a bank holiday week so yet another lieu day to try and book.

Never had this trouble with other companies I have worked for,but then again perhaps they operated with full staffing levels.

I'm stepping down from my soap box now.

[SexyLegs]

Play the childcare card people.........if you can ;)

[Patrick Clifton]

Pick holidays in groups of 6 at our office. Never had problem with what weeks wanted off, as long as no one else in your group wants same week. Must be lucky

Same here. We always get the holiday sheet very much in advance so you know when you are going to be off and you can book any time away into your holidays from work. We dont book our entire entitlement either. To allow for odd days off you may need during the year when things crop up. As long as you give enough notice, I have never had an 'odd holiday request' denied thus far.

I would be seriously pissed getting a piece of paper telling me when I will be taking holidays!

[TeeferTiger]

Play the childcare card people.........if you can ;)

I don't think a boyfriend and 3 cats count...? Well, on a maturity level they may do.

[fishtank]

Play the childcare card people.........if you can ;)

I don't think a boyfriend and 3 cats count...? Well, on a maturity level they may do.

He's not your boyfriend any more April..he's your fiancé...unless it's off again.

[POSTMAN]

It aint off is it,there's an update of mine in the canteen thread!