I've been given a leave pick sheet for 2026/2027 and asked to return this asap, despite not even having booked anything for this year.
I've been told I HAVE to book, a 2 week summer block, a 1 week summer block and a 1 week winter block, the other 2.5 days I just book as and when.
I'm told this is policy, but have no access to anything to check this, I don't want 2 weeks off at once, i have no requirement for that whatsoever, but even if I ask for it i'm unlikely to get it and they will just allocate me anything as i'm last in so all the other 150 odd employees get preference and I can have what's left.
No where does it say in my contract how I have to book what is MY leave, can anyone advise of policy as I dont have access to anything.
Is this a national thing or is this just my office doing what it wants?
Thanks.
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Booking Leave as a new starter
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mrhodes2705
- Posts: 7
- Joined: 11 Jul 2025, 21:18
- Gender: Male
- Location: Lancs
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R5001
- Posts: 305
- Joined: 13 Jan 2022, 19:19
- Gender: Male
Re: Booking Leave as a new starter
It's at least roughly national policy, yes. It can vary a little bit at each office, due to staffing (Drivers and non drivers etc alter how things can be covered.)
Book it. Depending on what leave group you are in, you'll have a higher or lower chance of getting what you ask for each year, they should rotate, so if in group 20 this year, group 1 next, 2 after etc. (Not usually this many leave groups, but I don't know how many your office has!). fill it out, hope for the best. You will have the oppurtunity to swap leave weeks with colleagues, but they may well not be willing to. Obvious hard to get holidays would be School Holidays. Nobody gets holidays across late November and all of December.
The company can choose when to let you have holiday if it wants to. You may find factory jobs that shut over Christmas use up 2 weeks of your leave in this manner. The main rule is that you MUST be allowed to take it. WHEN is not entirely your choice.
https://www.gov.uk/holiday-entitlement- ... g-time-off
"When leave can and cannot be taken
Employers can:
tell their staff to take leave, for example bank holidays or Christmas
restrict when leave can be taken, for example at certain busy periods
There may be rules about this in the employment contract.
The notice period for this is at least twice as long as the leave they want their staff to take. The employer must tell the worker before the notice period begins.
If an employer wants a worker to take leave, they need to make sure that the worker can relax, rest and enjoy leisure during their holiday. For example, an employer cannot force a sick worker to take leave."
~~~
On the lighter side, the two weeks in summer etc can often be negotiated with your managers, I know plenty who don't want 2 at once and prefer x full weeks spread out.
THIS years leave (Until April 31st) should be booked asap, and I'd pester them until it is spent. You may not get much choice in when, but you must be allowed to take it.
Book it. Depending on what leave group you are in, you'll have a higher or lower chance of getting what you ask for each year, they should rotate, so if in group 20 this year, group 1 next, 2 after etc. (Not usually this many leave groups, but I don't know how many your office has!). fill it out, hope for the best. You will have the oppurtunity to swap leave weeks with colleagues, but they may well not be willing to. Obvious hard to get holidays would be School Holidays. Nobody gets holidays across late November and all of December.
The company can choose when to let you have holiday if it wants to. You may find factory jobs that shut over Christmas use up 2 weeks of your leave in this manner. The main rule is that you MUST be allowed to take it. WHEN is not entirely your choice.
https://www.gov.uk/holiday-entitlement- ... g-time-off
"When leave can and cannot be taken
Employers can:
tell their staff to take leave, for example bank holidays or Christmas
restrict when leave can be taken, for example at certain busy periods
There may be rules about this in the employment contract.
The notice period for this is at least twice as long as the leave they want their staff to take. The employer must tell the worker before the notice period begins.
If an employer wants a worker to take leave, they need to make sure that the worker can relax, rest and enjoy leisure during their holiday. For example, an employer cannot force a sick worker to take leave."
~~~
On the lighter side, the two weeks in summer etc can often be negotiated with your managers, I know plenty who don't want 2 at once and prefer x full weeks spread out.
THIS years leave (Until April 31st) should be booked asap, and I'd pester them until it is spent. You may not get much choice in when, but you must be allowed to take it.