Can my boss reject my holiday request even though I’ve booked flights?
BOOKING a holiday quickly can be very tempting if you find a bargain deal, but you should avoid doing so before your boss has accepted your holiday request.
This is because they have the right to reject holiday requests, so what seemed like cheap flights may end up being a hole in your wallet.
Full-time workers in the UK are entitled to 28 days paid leave a year, including bank holidays, but just because you are guaranteed holiday doesn't mean you can take it when you want.
Your boss can force you to take holiday at certain times of the year such as Christmas and New Year or bank holidays when your workplace may be closed.
They can also set a cap on the number of employees that are on leave at the same time to make sure there's adequate cover, says Alan Price, a HR expert at HR software firm BrightHR.
He adds that bosses can deny your request even if you've already booked the flights.
My boss won't let me take any of the dates off that I have suggested - what should I do?
HERE is what to do when you feel you are being denied holiday
Talk to your colleagues: See how much time off the people you work with have taken as well as how far in advance they let their boss know they were going to take time off.
See if they got similar treatment or if you are being unfairly treated.
Have a chat: Have an informal conversation with your boss about why you can't take certain dates off.
Explain why you need the time off and if you feel it is necessary take a member of your trade union along with you.
Go higher up: If you still can't agree dates you may need to speak to senior management about the issue.
Launch an official complaint: At this point if you get no further you need to make an employment tribunal claim.
You have a statutory right to your holiday and if you feel that is being infringed upon you can go to court.
Before you make a claim, you need to talk to the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service (ACAS). It will try one last time to reconcile the issue, and if that fails it will give you guidance on how to make an employment tribunal claim.
Of course, your employer may try to find a compromise but this isn't guaranteed.
If you take off anyway, perhaps by calling in sick or not even letting your boss know, they will no doubt get suspicious.
If they find evidence that you've faked an illness, they might start disciplinary action against you.
Going on holiday without permission generally also counts as a disciplinary offence, but it's up to your employer how to deal with it.
They can sack you, but whether it'd be a fair dismissal depends on a few things, Mr Price said.
For example, your employer would have to consider how long you've been at the company for, what was said between you before it happened and whether it's listed as a "gross misconduct offence" in your contract.
Sometimes it may also be a genuine mistaken assumption that the leave has been approved.
Employers' rules vary though so carefully read your contract to check what applies to you.
But to be on the safe side, only book your flights once your boss has accepted your holiday request unless you're offered free cancellation or you're prepared to pay the cancellation fees or fees to change the booking.
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