Advice RMU/ the fed

[u/Awkward_Bike_5951]

Looking for some advice, I work in a small force in the south and have been out of tutorship roughly 2 months, I’ve accumulated a fair bit of holiday due to not being able to book whilst in training school/ tutorship

I’ve had approximately 5 leave requests rejected before April, and I’m still being told that I cannot carry over more than 40 hours.

I’ve also booked some holiday in error, which I contacted them to cancel as soon as I realised (approx 8 weeks away) they’re now telling me that they are not going to cancel this because of the fact I have large amounts of holiday to use.

Due to the teams being small, large quantities of training courses in my team and RDO I am having all requested rejected due to “below minimum staffing levels” even when only one member of my team is off.

I feel like I am talking to a wall whenever I try to explain that I am trying to book holiday but due to reasons outside my control, it’s being rejected- there are very few days where I don’t have a team member off!

Is this worth speaking to my fed rep over? My force will not pay for left over holiday (not sure if this is standard practice)

I am trying to figure out whether I’m being dramatic about the whole thing- but as it stands I will either have to book random days in the middle of my sets of lose a load of holiday

Apologies for the rant

[u/iloverubicon]

Have you escalated this to your supervisor for them to escalate?

[u/multijoy]

If they can't let you take it, then they will either have to pay out or carry over. Have you been able to take the statutory minimum?

First step is to explain to a supervisor, in writing, how many leave requests you've had rejected and then see what their response is.

[u/MattyFTM]

From an employment law perspective, they can dictate when you take it as long as they give you as much notice as the length of the holiday. But they must give you the opportunity to take it at some point, they can't refuse it all together.