HR help please Post Reply

[beaver]

My son's employer has informed staff that their offices will be closed between Christmas and New Year and that staff have to take those days off as holiday.  Surely that can't be legal? Any advice please? Thanks in advance for any guidance. 

[mrs_original]

Yes, it is. It's probably in his contract and employee handbook/policies.

[balhamnewmum]

Not an HR expert but certainly worked for a company for a long time where their offices were closed over Xmas and that during Xmas and new year we had to take the time off as part of holiday - was in our contract too. Something like 3 days. Sorry can’t be more helpful!

[Jonquil]

Yes, it’s perfectly legal. I’m an HR Consultant. Employees don’t actually have a right to take their contracted holidays when they choose though normally employers will try to accommodate. And there is usually something written in the contract or staff handbook to say that.

[MetroRat]

Completely normal policy and not a big deal. In most jobs it is pretty hard to do any meaningful work at that time anyway.
I worked a few years for a small company in France (a while back now) and I would be informed in April when my 3 weeks off in the summer would be - no choice, no flexibility, no option to take holiday at any other time instead.
When I had to take 2 days off to go back to the UK it was a massive deal and I had to sign a statement saying I acknowledged the huge inconvenience to the organisation and committed to still meeting my targets and had better ensure my co-workers would not be impacted, blah blah.

[MetroRat]

… meaning we in the UK have got it good in comparison, and that allocating 3 days annual leave to Christmas break seems fine to me. Certainly better than my scenario!