wife unreasonable?

[alecstilleyedye]

i've started a job as a postie at royal mail; it's a three month contract. as it's a bit of an open secret that contracts get extended, they have now asked me for my preferences for 2012 holidays. we have booked a week's camping in july, but it seems that popular requests for time off go into a lucky dip, so i may miss out.

mrs alec's gone ballistic, telling it's me that it's my fault, but how do you tell an employer you want time off beyond when your contract expires, and who do you think would do anything about it anyway? when i accepted the job they asked about holidays booked during the three months, not any i might have subsequently.

am i right in thinking it's not really my fault, unless the holiday is more important than the money from the job…

 

[marinyork]

mrs alec's gone ballistic, telling it's me that it's my fault, but how do you tell an employer you want time off beyond when your contract expires, and who do you think would do anything about it anyway? when i accepted the job they asked about holidays booked during the three months, not any i might have subsequently.

I'm sure they didn't ask beyond the 3 months, but given what's happened it's usual to honour such commitments.

 

[ttcycle]

It's a difficult situation Alecs. Perhaps when she's had time to cool down it might be worth having a proper talk about it. It might be worth speaking to colleagues to see if you can negotiate or swap holidays officially.

It might be the fact that when money is tight- holidays can seem a very special thing that keeps you buoyed. Plus, if it's taken time or money to organise, it might just be the frustration from that.

 

[Crackle]

I think she is both unreasonable and right. You are right too.

Yes I do have fence post marks on my butt.

 

[marinyork]

I think the wife's more or less right. He's had his holiday plans rumbled by and ruined by his employer.

 

[Linford]

I would personally say - if your summer holiday plans get scuppered, do a work around at that point and see if you can plan and save for a nice one later on in the year - maybe get somethign out of season and go abroad when the weather is really crap

 

[redcard]

Tell the wife to phone HR.

On second thoughts....

Yes, I think she's unreasonable. You can't force them to give you the time off.

 

[rualexander]

Being familiar with Royal Mail, I would say you haven't got a cat in hell's chance of getting holidays in July unless you can find someone to swap with. Everyone's holidays for the year will have already been allocated and as a recent start you will be left to pick from what's left unallocated. Good luck.

 

[dellzeqq]

i've started a job as a postie at royal mail; it's a three month contract. as it's a bit of an open secret that contracts get extended, they have now asked me for my preferences for 2012 holidays. we have booked a week's camping in july, but it seems that popular requests for time off go into a lucky dip, so i may miss out.

mrs alec's gone ballistic, telling it's me that it's my fault, but how do you tell an employer you want time off beyond when your contract expires, and who do you think would do anything about it anyway? when i accepted the job they asked about holidays booked during the three months, not any i might have subsequently.

am i right in thinking it's not really my fault, unless the holiday is more important than the money from the job…

no. You are wrong. It is your fault. This is a rule. You will now have to squirm your way out of this mess, and nobody is going to thank you. Good luck.

 

[marinyork]

Being familiar with Royal Mail, I would say you haven't got a cat in hell's chance of getting holidays in July unless you can find someone to swap with. Everyone's holidays for the year will have already been allocated and as a recent start you will be left to pick from what's left unallocated. Good luck.

If he'd been a permanent and scheduled to work in July, despite being unfair on him personally as is the case with new starts in many organisations, I could agree with this. As royal mail offered him a 3 month contract that's just tough cheddars. It's their own fault and not MrsAlecstilleyedye's and they should live with the consequences of their actions. The eyedye's should have booked the holiday anyway. I'm sure some other holiday can be found, but it's basically a ruse by the employer and it's worked at their expense. It's why I said mrseyedye was right. I've been through this scenario before and made the same mistake. It's not the end of the world if you're very happy with your employer and can find something else things are really about compromise, but if you don't feel like that it's pretty much a disaster.

 

[GilesM]

Yes, your wife is being unreasonable, it's not your fault, it's the way things go sometimes, what does she expect you to do, tell the Royal Mail to shove the job.

PS. My words from a brave distance.

 

[Arjimlad]

Yes, the husband is always wrong.

Therefore, you should of course offer to resign your job in time to go on holiday and point out that if you did so you would be voluntarily unemployed & ineligible for JSA.

Perhaps Mrs Alec should read the papers or watch the news about the economy and unemployment...

 

[col]

If you approach them and explain you hadnt mentioned it because of the three month thing, Im sure they will try to help. Worth a try, and its not your fault.

 

[phil_hg_uk]

Whats a holiday

 

[smokeysmoo]

Wife unreasonable? Yes she is actually, but I'd like to know how you know my Wife is reasonable?