Holiday Pay for Casuals (not Christmas Casuals)

[Lockardian]

Just received a text from Angard saying it's a quiet period with few available shifts and we are advised to use our holidays which can be backdated by up to 4 weeks.

I am aware that holidays can be booked to 'pause the clock' and prevent the pay rate dropping after six weeks of no shifts. I'm planning to do this, but I'm confused as to what is meant by backdating holidays. Does that mean if I've had no shifts by Friday I can put in a holiday for the week just ending (but won't get paid the money until a future week, as the cut off is Momday for payroll)?

Also, is there any truth in this rumour that you lose your holiday pay if it's not taken/paid by the end of the tax year, or a different date?

I've read through the various threads here but just ended up getting more confused! Any clarification is welcome.

[tabact]

Does that mean if I've had no shifts by Friday I can put in a holiday for the week just ending (but won't get paid the money until a future week, as the cut off is Momday for payroll)?

Yes you can and if you book the holiday by Friday afternoon you might even get the holiday pay the following week depending on when they process it. The backdating can actually be helpful in spreading payment out in addition to pausing the six weeks. If you put in for holiday for a number of weeks in advance they generally pay it as a lump sum straight away not when the week in question actually occurs. You can't book holiday you haven't accrued so I guess this is why they just pay out straight away.

I had a text today stating take all your holiday by the end of March or lose it so no point in risking it by assuming they will pay it anyway or carry it over, officially holiday is not carried over. You will get paid up for holiday accrued in the week or two before the end of the tax year because obviously you don't know in advance if you will be working or not so can't book holiday.

[Lockardian]

Thanks tabact.

So, for example, if I book a holiday now for this week, say Monday 8th,
- will this be classed as a day's holiday for this week as far as pausing the clock is concerned, even if I may not be paid the money until say two weeks time?

Thanks for the advice about taking holiday by the end of March - I've accrued quite a lot so I'll definitely have to make sure I request it all before then. My only concern then is, come April, if I get no shifts I'll have no holiday left to pause the clock with!!

[tabact]

So, for example, if I book a holiday now for this week, say Monday 8th,
- will this be classed as a day's holiday for this week as far as pausing the clock is concerned, even if I may not be paid the money until say two weeks time?

Theoretically yes it should, I've backdated holiday in the past but only because I had a blank week and didn't worry about the six week rule. The longest I've gone without a shift in two years is three weeks so never been an issue. Email angard asking them to confirm backdated holiday counts as pausing the clock. That way you have it in writing and not just something somebody said on a forum. If you look on angard's website it states you can't backdate holiday http://www.angardstaffing.co.uk/default ... HolidayPay so they contradict themselves. The thing to be more wary of if there are no shifts is to make sure your security clearance doesn't lapse. Supposedly this occurs after four weeks without shifts if you haven't had any contact with angard so if you go into a fourth week with no shifts give them a ring. I know people who have rung up for a shift that has been offered after six weeks without work and they have been told they can't work because they don't have security clearance any more.

The holiday year resets at the start of April so you can't officially keep holiday to use in April so no point in saving it. How often have you got close to six weeks without work since being with angard? It goes a bit quieter up to Easter but I've found June / July to be the really quiet period.

[Lockardian]

I have got an email stating you can backdate holidays to pause the clock - and I have a lot of hours to take so hopefully that won't be a problem.

Last week was the first week since I started (in October) when I haven't been offered any shifts. They've said it's quiet but should pick up in a couple of weeks, so I'm not too worried.

Thanks for the heads up about security clearance - I'll contact them if it gets to about three weeks without any shifts.

[spit]

Hi Si-Co

The end-March thing is correct for putting your 2015/16 accrued leave hours in, but you might find this worth knowing too ....

I am aware that holidays can be booked to 'pause the clock' and prevent the pay rate dropping after six weeks of no shifts.

Currently, this is not entirely accurate. Yes, there is a six week rule after which you are taken off the AWR rate, but Angard's current position is this: if you do not take a shift in a FOUR week period, you will be required to pass through security checking again. By the time your documents have been signed off and verified, it is probable (pretty certain, in fact) that you'll have passed that 6-week mark and be returning on min wage to build up your 12 again.

I'm trying to find out whether the slipping in of a bit of leave here and there will affect Angard's 4-week clock, or whether they continue to count from the time that you last worked (ie accepted an 'assignment'). I suspect that any leave taken will do no more than pause the day-count rather than reset it back at zero for another 4 weeks.... this is just a guess that is consistent with AWR guidelines though. If I get any clarification on this I'll let you know.

We could argue the toss about whether this curtailed 4-week approach is consistent with AWRegulations - I suspect that you WILL remain entitled to AWR rate for 6 weeks as the regulations state ...... its just that you won't be security cleared to work in weeks 5 and 6, so the extra fortnight that the regs allow will be of no use!

Hope this helps, even if its only to ensure that you don't fall off the list.