Forced holiday over Xmas

[SpontaneousOrder]

BAML started doing it recently (ish) because they figured out it was a waste of money paying contractors to work on Christmas even when everyone just played games for a few hours and then went to the pub and then home.

[psychocandy]

Asked current client. Dunno was the answer - can we let you know the plans the week before xmas?

Cheers for that. I can imagine their face if they thought I was working then said on xmas eve, nah Im off until the new year.

[Underscore Pt2]

I've had an odd time on my new contract and my latest news has me looking elsewhere earlier than planned.

I have a contract which started back in August with a very well known company. The contract I was leaving had a short notice period but I knew they would be in a difficult spot if I just left at short notice so I wanted to give them more time to find an alternative. My new company though were adamant that I start as soon as possible and suggested that were I not to do so the offer would be revoked. So I handed in my notice, signed a new contract and left on the friday only to receive a call the same evening to say that they wouldn't be ready for me for another week. The result being that I took an unplanned week off unpaid.
Not nice as it was so last minute. They did however say that the new contract would be extended by a week to compensate.

Roll forward to now and I'm preparing for Xmas and am now told that I am not permitted to work over the Xmas and new year period. While the company doesn't close down they have an unwritten rule that non essential staff are obligated to take 2 weeks off. Contractors fall into this category.

So I am now faced with taking time off unpaid without wanting to do so. None of this is stipulated in my contract.
Could I, or should I, try to claim any payment for my time?

Standard practice.

[GillsMan]

It would be allowed. My father's employer closes down the entire factory for 2 weeks.

Yes, but does that come out of their holiday entitlement? I have three staff, and we shut the office for two weeks between Christmas and New Year. That doesn't come out of their 20 days' holiday entitlement, so maybe that's the difference? Can't imagine it's OK to force people to take their holiday on certain days. It's why, when recruiting, I advertise our holiday entitlement as 20 days + Christmas & New Years Off, rather than 27-28 days annual leave.

[SpontaneousOrder]

Yes, but does that come out of their holiday entitlement? I have three staff, and we shut the office for two weeks between Christmas and New Year. That doesn't come out of their 20 days' holiday entitlement, so maybe that's the difference? Can't imagine it's OK to force people to take their holiday on certain days. It's why, when recruiting, I advertise our holiday entitlement as 20 days + Christmas & New Years Off, rather than 27-28 days annual leave.

Yes, out of the 20 days. Leaving 10 bookable ones remaining.

At my very first dev job in 2005 I got 20 days holiday - including bank holidays. Of the 12 non bank holiday days I had to use 3 up over Christmas.
That left me with 9 bookable days holiday per year.

**edit** i know the minimum legal entitlement now is more, but as far as I'm aware it still doesn't have to be bookable at your own discretion.
My mother works in a college as a cook. She has to have the whole summer holidays off. Obviously - meaning she has no bookable holidays at all for the rest of the year.

[BolshieBastard]

Im aware that Virgin Money and Axa have this time off starting before Christmas to after New Year for contractors.

Regarding employees holidays, I think the minimum statutory entitlement is 25 days but this can include Public Holidays if the employer wishes.

Some employers will have an enforced shut down where all employess have to take the time off. When I was doing a house share a few years back, the landlord worked in a factory which closed for 2 weeks early July when they did maintenance on the machinery.

[SpontaneousOrder]

Im aware that Virgin Money and Axa have this time off starting before Christmas to after New Year for contractors.

Regarding employees holidays, I think the minimum statutory entitlement is 25 days but this can include Public Holidays if the employer wishes.

Some employers will have an enforced shut down where all employess have to take the time off. When I was doing a house share a few years back, the landlord worked in a factory which closed for 2 weeks early July when they did maintenance on the machinery.

Plus factories tend not to be the kind of place that can actually get anything done when half the workforce is off on holiday during summer peak season. Production line, etc. So by forcing them to take 2 weeks off the not only get to do the maintenance, but they greatly reduce the problems associated with keeping production lines running while people want time off.

[SpontaneousOrder]

stutory entitlement is 25 days but this can include Public Holidays if the employer wishes.

28 at the moment.

[Scrag Meister]

Current ClientCo tried this last Christmas, until we asked who we were handing over to for support, and all of a sudden it was fine to not take any compulsory unbilled days.

[BolshieBastard]

28 at the moment.

tulip! Its gone up, I better get employed!!