A selection of Q&As I have recently received including working time, sick pay, apprenticeships, holidays and more.
Holiday entitlement
Q. I’m a security guard working for xxxxx. They constantly turn down my leave requests. I have to give them 28 days notice for even one day off. I have even given more than 28 days notice but I just get told I can’t have them because they don’t have any one to cover my shifts. How is this fair or even legal.
A. This does seem harsh, but the reality is that an employer can dictate when you can and can’t take holiday. The only requirement is that you are provided with a statutory minimum of 5.6 weeks of holiday per year.
Employers are under a duty to make efforts to ensure the leave is taken within the relevant leave year. They (the employer) must make workers aware of their right to annual leave otherwise untaken leave will accrue year on year. I recently wrote an article about this in a previous Case of the Week.
Phased return to work
Q. I had covid bad back in August, 7 days intensive care, 4 weeks covid ward, I was off work 5 months when in December I decided to do phased return to work. I discussed this in a teams meeting with my manager and a hr guy, they was in agreement I could come back on 10th January which I did on light duties. 3 half days 2 weeks, 4 half-3/4 days for 2 weeks then this week, 1 had 30 days holiday which needs taken b4 April or I lose it so I've booked several 2 week holidays, 1 starts this Wednesday, this morning my boss mentioned my 6 weeks phased return is up during my holidays and I'll be on full work when I get back, however I'm still not fully fit yet. Not by far, my sick note runs till 1st March and I was gonna get another 4 weeks to cover me,
My question is. Is this 6 weeks phased a thing or can I be phased for longer until I am well.
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