Rostered holidays, anyone have a job with 'em?

[Noodley]

As stated above, Mrs N and I rarely had time off together when we were in the Police, and then I became self-employed for a few years so that I rarely had time off at all. On the few occasions we did have time off together it was mostly not at the same time as school holidays; we never had any problem with the school, in fact the head teacher said that she was quite happy for kids to have the opportunity to go on a family holiday and that it was not a problem if kids had time off for that purpose. One of my younger daughter's friend's family is from Poland and she often has time off near to school holidays in order to go back to Poland to visit her grandparents or to go on holiday with her parents, both of whom work in jobs where holidays are rostered. (enter your own rant about bloody eastern europeans coming over here and stealing our schools, etc etc and doing what the bloody want)

But I'd imagine the attitude of the school is not universal (and probably nor representative of the education department's stance.)

 

[Arch]

It's not about when it suits them, it's about when it's possible. I was taken out of school for a week most years in the Autumn, just to wander about in bits of England with my mother. Didn't hurt me either. But actually I sort of disagree with your first point - I don't think kids should learn that everything else in their lives is less important than work or school.

On the other hand, it's not a bad thing to learn that sometimes you do have to stick at a job even if you'd rather go and have fun.

The OP is talking about 19 days off, with maybe only some of it coinciding with school holidays. OK, well take that time as holiday with the family, and spend the rest just enjoying a break at home. There's no need to have a fortnight at a time away as a family. There's no need to have a holiday away at all, just have days out when you can.

Anyway, if the son is 13, he may not want a fortnight away with his embarrassing parents for much longer...

 

[theclaud]

On the other hand, it's not a bad thing to learn that sometimes you do have to stick at a job even if you'd rather go and have fun.

The OP is talking about 19 days off, with maybe only some of it coinciding with school holidays. OK, well take that time as holiday with the family, and spend the rest just enjoying a break at home. There's no need to have a fortnight at a time away as a family. There's no need to have a holiday away at all, just have days out when you can.

Anyway, if the son is 13, he may not want a fortnight away with his embarrassing parents for much longer...

That's what kids do most days - it's called "school".

 

[Mr Haematocrit]

Are you not able to swap holiday times with other workers?
As long as the company has cover I would think they do not care, have you discussed if this is possible?

 

[TheDoctor]

Did you not read the terms and conditions before accepting the job?
Holiday arrangements are always discussed in them.

 

[screenman]

Time off of school not only effects the kids taking it but also the teachers, the other kids in the class also have to wait for the others to play catch up.

 

[cyberknight]

2 weeks at the beginning of August, a week or so depending on how x mas falls leave me with 10 days a year i can book when i need them manning permitting as we are only allowed an average of 2 off at any 1 time per 30 or so people to ensure there is enough man power to cover unplanned absences etc.

 

[vernon]

Time off of school not only effects the kids taking it but also the teachers, the other kids in the class also have to wait for the others to play catch up.

No it doesn't.

As a teacher I should know.

 

[vernon]

Perfectly sensible advice, if it's the only time he can get a holiday. Schools need to lighten up a bit.

So does Screenman.

 

[screenman]

Explain please how a child having to play catch up does not count. According to the head teacher around here last night it can effect performance in the classroom.

 

[vernon]

Explain please how a child having to play catch up does not count. According to the head teacher around here last night it can effect performance in the classroom.

There's a considerable difference between it can and it does.

There's next to the square root of FA to catch up on if a child disappears for a fortnight. No topic is taught once. It's revisited at least twice.

If you believe what head teachers say then your are more gullible than I thought.

You can always tell when head teachers lie. Their lips move.

 

[Drago]

In the dibble they are forever declining annual leave applications on the basis that "it takes is below minimum staffing".

Unfortunately, that is not a lawful reason to decline A/L and it inevitably ends up with me speaking to the fed, who inevitably contact the scrambled egg who declined the request, who inevitably has to then give me the leave to avoid going to a tribunal. Hell, I once had an application go all the way the the CC's desk before they capitulated.

What an incredible waste of public time and money. They know I'm lawfully entitled to it, and that staffing levels are not a lawful reason for declining it, so why not just authorise it first time round and allow everyone concerned to get on with the business of policing? What a radical thought, eh?

 

[screenman]

Vernon, why do you return to a subject twice, seems a a bit odd.

 

[Sandra6]

Quite a few of the factories around here still give staff "block" holidays like that and I know a few people who have to take time off when they're told rather than when they choose, they moan about it all the time.
Mr6 and I both get to choose when we have holidays, neither of us have managed to get enough time off together in the school holidays to do anything with them for the past few years. Last year he didn't get a single day off in the summer holidays and I had to do a massive amount of shift juggling and begging favours to cover my absence when I needed to be at home due to no childcare.
Being allowed to choose your days off doesn't always work in your favour either, just be happy you have job and a reasonable amount of time off into the bargain.

 

[Drago]

Think yourself lucky youre not in the Army, where 2 or 3 days of your leave could be spent travelling back from wherever on the World you were posted.