Cancellation Of A/L this week, seeking proof of booking

[Dandaman23]

I heard a certain office has had managers asking them to cancel leave this week as too many off, extra amazon packets, actually asking for proof of anything booked if they refuse. Can anyone confirm this is actually happening.

[Seymour Buts]

I've no idea, but almost certainly the answer is no. I've been asked to cancel leave before, for one reason or another, and have at certain times and not others. I suspect this comes from somebody being asked to cancel leave, not refused it. I've no idea on the legalities of it all, but straight up refusing previously agreed leave would be difficult I'm sure.

[Beanyjazz]

Yes, an employer can cancel an employee's annual leave in the UK, but they must give the employee adequate notice:

UK solicitor's website. 'Per law, the employer must give at least the same length of notice before the start of the annual leave as the length of the annual leave. This means that if the employee has booked five days holiday, the employer must give at least five days’ notice.'

[TrueBlueTerrier]

It is illegal in the UK for an employer to cancel an employee's leave without their agreement. If the business wants to cancel leave, they must give at least as much notice as the length of the leave. For example, if someone has booked a week off, the employer cannot cancel it without agreeing with the employee at least a week in advance.

[Dandaman23]

Anyone saying no, they wanted to see flight booking/hotel etc

[Barnacle]

Anyone saying no, they wanted to see flight booking/hotel etc

What if you are mentally exhausted and need your leave?

[Dandaman23]

Yeah, Idk, I have never come across this before, If I have leave I wanna take it, not come into work and end up carrying leave over cos no leave slots available.

[twoloops]

I'd be re-planning my sick week

[NWpostie]

I would not be cancelling my leave for nobody, I plan my holiday in advance and I value these time off as an opportunity to recharge my batteries, switch off and work phone ignored.

[Barnacle]

I would not be cancelling my leave for nobody, I plan my holiday in advance and I value these time off as an opportunity to recharge my batteries, switch off and work phone ignored.

Nor me.

[michael147]

We had a similar situation last year when our manager made a hash of the annual leave, resulting in some weeks oversubscribed (as extra slots had been opened up which should not have been).
As has been said here, at first they wanted to see flight and hotel bookings with the theory that those people would be given priority.
The rep and many other people pointed out the problems with this, for instance just because you have not booked something does not mean that you have not organised something.
For example you may have agreed to visit family or friends so no booking required, you may be holidaying in a location where accommodation is not at a premium and booking is not required.
You may have organised a week of day trips to theme parks or nature reserves, again no booking required.
Perhaps when your week off was confirmed you told your partner who then booked the same week at their workplace so it could be enjoyed together.
One point very forcefully made was simple but effective, which was that you cannot sign off everyone`s leave and 6 weeks later tell them it`s all in the lap of the Gods again, it`s just not on.
In the end nothing happened and the office just had to cope as best it could.