The festive season is approaching, and while it is traditionally a time to celebrate and relax, sadly for many workers that isn\u2019t always the case.<\/p>\n
Recent research by IronmongeryDirect, the UK\u2019s largest supplier of specialist ironmongery, found that more than a fifth (21%) of UK tradespeople will work on Christmas Day this year, mainly due to the cost of living crisis, and almost a third (31%) are taking less time off than in previous years.<\/p>\n
But what if you don\u2019t want to work on the bank holidays? What if you\u2019d like a break between Christmas and New Year?
\nIronmongeryDirect spoke to Liz Sebag-Montefiore, director and co-founder of HR consultancy 10Eighty, to explain what to do if your employer asks you to work over the festive period.<\/p>\n
Check your contract <\/strong> \u201cIf a bank holiday is on a day that you do not usually work, your employer cannot make you use that day as part of your holiday entitlement.\u201d<\/p>\n Communicate with your manager <\/strong> \u201cThey can\u2019t discriminate, but you\u2019d have to prove that you were treated differently to others. There should be no favouritism from your employer when deciding. It\u2019s not, for instance, fair to say that working parents have priority on holiday requests.<\/p>\n \u201cIf you are rostered to work and want to take holiday, you may be able to swap your shift if you can find a co-worker willing to swap, but your employer doesn\u2019t have to allow this, so make sure you check with them first.\u201d<\/p>\n Consider the consequences <\/strong> \u201cIf you have a good reason to ask for a schedule change, you\u2019re more likely to be accommodated if you are generally cooperative and agreeable about such matters. Depending on your contract, if you offer to work an unpopular shift, you might be able to negotiate time in lieu.<\/p>\n \u201cIf you decide to say \u2018no\u2019 to a request to work on specific day, you have to accept the consequences.<\/p>\n \u201cIn some industries, it\u2019s essential for at least some staff to be working on every single day of the year. In these cases, it\u2019s not unreasonable for an employer to ask you to work \u2013 it all depends on your role.<\/p>\n \u201cI think modern work culture means that more people do and will have to work weekends and holidays. It\u2019s just the way things are going. You can stand up for your rights but be sure of your ground first.\u201d<\/p>\n
\n\u201cIf you have a contract, read it closely to see exactly what you\u2019ve signed up to. An employer does not have to give you time off on bank or public holidays if they are not included in your holiday entitlement. This applies to both part-time and full-time workers.<\/p>\n
\n\u201cCommunication is key. Don\u2019t make assumptions. If you want your manager\/employer to be reasonable, then you need to be reasonable too.
\n\u201cYour employer should be planning and communicating schedules in good time. Talk to your manager and don\u2019t leave it until the last minute to ask for time off. If others have already requested leave, you may be out of luck.<\/p>\n
\n\u201cBeing agreeable about the holiday roster could help you earn the favour of management, as by being flexible, you\u2019re making their lives easier.<\/p>\n