Taking holiday over Xmas

[ful56_uk]

Hi

Just look at our school term dates this year and noticed the Xmas is late breaking up and we go back on the 7th jan.

If the school decides to shut, can they force me to use my holiday over Xmas time?

[twin--turbo]

Not sure,

We tend to get given "Efficiency" days.

Basicaly, if we said we wanted to work then they would have to get the facilities company in to open up and we would be there doing very little. So they see it as a cost saving.

Rob

[elsiegee40]

In a word... Yes they can make you take holiday when the premises are completely closed.

There are 3 public holidays in that period and, chances are, the school will reopen to staff quite soon after New Year's Day

[witch]

It may be in your contract that they can tell you when to take holiday - it usually stipulates around 5 days.

[plexer]

Your employer can stipulate when you will take all of your holiday if they so wished:

Taking your holiday : Directgov - Employment

Ben

[j17sparky]

Your employer can stipulate when you will take all of your holiday if they so wished:

Taking your holiday : Directgov - Employment

Ben

This ^

[witch]

From that link though:
"This may be in your contract of employment, or it may be normal practice built up over time. An employer has to give the same amount of notice as you do."

So, as I said, it needs to be in your contract as it obviously isnt 'normal practice' built up over time

[ful56_uk]

Thanks guys that's answer my question

[plexer]

From that link though:
"This may be in your contract of employment, or it may be normal practice built up over time. An employer has to give the same amount of notice as you do."

So, as I said, it needs to be in your contract as it obviously isnt 'normal practice' built up over time

It could be classed as normal practice built up over time if it's applied to existing staff for the last 10 years for instance and then they would have to just give you notice of that.

Ben

[j17sparky]

From that link though:
"This may be in your contract of employment, or it may be normal practice built up over time. An employer has to give the same amount of notice as you do."

So, as I said, it needs to be in your contract as it obviously isnt 'normal practice' built up over time

Nope, not how it works. It may be in your contract. It may be during the Christmas shutdown... Don't think I've seen a contract explicitly state you must take holidays during the Christmas shutdown.

[FN-GM]

You could work from home during this period....

[witch]

Nope, not how it works. It may be in your contract. It may be during the Christmas shutdown... Don't think I've seen a contract explicitly state you must take holidays during the Christmas shutdown.

Yes, it is how it works - a friend was being forced to take holiday because his school was shutting due to subsidence and his union argued that it wasnt in his contract or usual practice so they couldnt do it. And they didnt.
The link I posted didnt say " it may be during the Christmas shutdown"???
I have seen a contract saying that they can specify up to X days of your holiday - mrwITch's does for a start. But in his case they have always taken a few days for between Christmas and New Year so that counts as normal practice at his employment

[witch]

It could be classed as normal practice built up over time if it's applied to existing staff for the last 10 years for instance and then they would have to just give you notice of that.

Ben

Which is what I said - but from the way the OP asked, I presumed not

[j17sparky]

The link I posted didnt say " it may be during the Christmas shutdown"???

Hmm, yes it does.

may require the whole company to take holiday during a Christmas shutdown.

[witch]

Sorry, not explaining well, what I meant was that the basic answer was that it may be in your contract (and yes, that could be the christmas shutdown) or usual practice.
I was concerned that the OP would think that it would have to specify "the Christmas shutdown" in order to be legal whereas of course it doesnt, it just has to specify the way holidays are allocated - eg the management reserve the right to allocate X days of employees holiday blah blah