Holiday enforcement?

**realityhack** · 20 June 2008, 15:42

Originally posted by fiddlesticks View Post

I've had an email from my manager saying that the compliance department requires me to take at least 1 holiday of 10 consecutive working days this year.

This doesn't fit in with my holiday plans for this year (having just taken 7 days, and probably my longest holiday of the year). Am I obliged to take the 10 days?

Erm, are you a contractor? Obvious question really, but if you are, you can inform them that your company has it's own holiday policy, or something like that. I'm not sure they can legally do that to you - sounds like D&C to me. Check your contract/work schedule.

**SueEllen** · 20 June 2008, 16:00

Tell them to f*** off.

Unless they are a manufacturing plant or something with a close down period where everyone has to take holiday they can't enforce you to take holidays of a specific minimum length.

Even when I was permie I refused to let anyone dictate how long my holidays where going to be. I've always taken short or very long holidays. I've only once been on a 2 week holiday..............

**tay** · 20 June 2008, 16:04

Actaully.... its a reasonable request in some industries. As they say that most financial scams cannot be maintained without personal input for more than 2 weeks, it will be an audit requirement that everyone has at least 10 days away (in a row) from company computers once a year.

**fiddlesticks** · 20 June 2008, 16:16

Yep, I'm a contractor currently working for an investment bank...

**Gonzo** · 20 June 2008, 18:16

Originally posted by fiddlesticks View Post

I've had an email from my manager saying that the compliance department requires me to take at least 1 holiday of 10 consecutive working days this year.

This doesn't fit in with my holiday plans for this year (having just taken 7 days, and probably my longest holiday of the year). Am I obliged to take the 10 days?

While you might argue that you are not obliged to take the ten days, it is normal for financial companies and if you refuse, you may find that they enforce it by terminating you.

**G8_Summit** · 20 June 2008, 20:26

Originally posted by Gonzo View Post

While you might argue that you are not obliged to take the ten days, it is normal for financial companies and if you refuse, you may find that they enforce it by terminating you.

Agreed - I've had this a couple of times although the company were more honest saying that it was to save money near the year end.
You can either put up with it or you will need to start looking elsewhere.

**thunderlizard** · 20 June 2008, 20:49

yes, the compliance dept will require 10 days' absence ('continuous' is the giveaway) but your contact has assumed this means holiday. Whether you spend the 10 days in Torremolinos or consulting for the bank next door is your own affair.

**moorfield** · 20 June 2008, 20:53

This is a common requirement for permies in IBs. In my experience these kind of emails periodically originate from some HR jobsworth who's got an objectives box to tick, but I've never come across it actually being "enforced" for contractors or pimps getting stroppy about it. My usual tactic is just to nod my head and mumble "yes boss, I'll book something in the holiday calendar". Invariably, 3 weeks later, it's been forgotten about after said HR jobsworth has finished running their quarter end holidays report.

As I have posted recently, some of us are now facing "holiday enforcement" by a cap on our annual no. of invoicing days, but this is a slightly different issue about clients cost control not their compliance procedures.

**BolshieBastard** · 20 June 2008, 21:23

Originally posted by Gonzo View Post

While you might argue that you are not obliged to take the ten days, it is normal for financial companies and if you refuse, you may find that they enforce it by terminating you.

Er, dont know what 'financial' companies you've worked for but I've worked for Barclays, Norther Rock and Bank of America (twice). Im coming up to 2 years with BoA.

I've never been asked to take any leave in any contract role, nor would I. Complying with their 'directive' could be argued to be a pointer of employment and hence IR35.

Deffo tell them sorry, Im not a permie and take leave as and when my co decides, not you.

Holiday enforcement?