Am I allowed to use all my holidays or can they stop me?

[youngwife20]

Hi everyone. i go back to work around decemeber which is when i acrue new holiday i go on mat leave again in march ( havent told them yet as im not 20 weeks yet). am i allowed to book all my holidays if i want or can they stop me? i work for a gas and elec country uk. xx

 

[Rachel_C]

Do you mean can you take all of your holiday in the time you're back at work? You do still acrue holiday as usual while on maternity leave so they can't say you don't get any holiday, but your normal rules would apply to when you can take it. You can't, for example, just say "I am taking 2 weeks off there and there", you would have to request it just like any other person and whether they approve it or not is based on the normal rules. If they have a good reason e.g. somebody else is already off that week, they can say no to you as they would to anybody else. You can put in your request as usual if you want e.g. to cover the whole year if you want to plan ahead, but if you're not going to be there I don't see the point, you'll just be paid for it/take it when you go back if you're on maternity leave anyway, won't you?

 

[youngwife20]

i find it confusing. they said if i return in january i have alot of holiday to use but my plan was to use my holidays to work half days but i feel they wont agree with that , but i think you can cash in on holiday acrued but i dont think i can cash in on toil though i dont think? xx thnks for answering x

 

[ArcaneSpark]

I don't think legally u can cash holiday in above a certain amount unless your leaving the company as they legally have to give you 4 weeks (I think off).

If I was you and wanted to work what is effectively part time using your holiday allowance I would bite the bullet and talk to them. IMO they are more likely to be flexible if your honest with them. I can't imagine any manager letting you use your holiday to work part time for a few months of the holiday year without understanding why your requesting it, if you get what I mean!

 

[nickibrum]

Instead of doing half days every day i would work full time for 2.5 days and then use 2.5 days holiday each week. Its easier to get cover for you that way aswell.

They cant stop you accuring holiday but they can limit when you take it just like any other time.

 

[youngwife20]

thanks everyone i get what u mean! great ideas xx

 

[Mamoosca]

I'm back at work in jan and due again at the end of April. HR have said I have to use my full years holiday unless I plan to return after 6 months, in which case I can use it then.

They wouldn't allow me to use it 2 days per week and I have to take the chunk in one go, so I will be returning on Jan 31 and leaving on March 15, taking 5 weeks hols and then starting mat leave at 38 weeks.

 

[youngwife20]

Thank you Mamoosca!