Reply to: Holiday enforcement?

[Gonzo]

Two-weeks continuous absence was not a requirement at my current (fund manager) client until recently, although when they found that out several of the managers couldn't believe that it wasn't already mandatory.

Non-US banks have not tended to be so strict in the past.

It was a requirement at my last permie job (an american bank) to take two weeks continous leave, even though I never went near any money or even any production systems.

Monsieur Kerviel's escapades at SocGen have brought the issue very much to the forefront of senior manager's minds this year.

That said, IMO, a minimum of two continous weeks spent not thinking about work, or looking for work, in every year is necessary for my general well-being.

[tay]

The point is that it is not bulltulip and his client contact is probably getting heat, and if the OP decides to make an issue of it, then thats cool, but he needs to be prepared for the possible reprecussions... and in this market it might be easier just to take a couple of weeks off.... or hope the manager forgets. Getting assy definately is a risky prospect.

[fiddlesticks]

Thanks for the replies so far.

It's not an FSA requirement (at least not yet), but it was triggered by the SocGen debacle and I don't think it's something they're taking lightly. IIRC they've said they'll check door entry to verify compliance. Slightly Big Brother, but that's the neature of the beast in this case.

I'm thinking I'll just put it off until later in the year, after my current contract runs out. I'll have been there 18 months by then and it's probably time to move on anyway.

As moorfield mentions, we're also facing an invoicing cap this year due to one of my colleagues taking almost zero holiday and working 50% of the weekends last year. The CIO asked the department to reemburse the funds...

[Moscow Mule]

As with BolshieBastard, I've worked for several banks as well and I've never come across this, therefore I doubt if it's an FSA requirement. I don't doubt that you may have been told that by your client at one time or other though.

One company has no right to tell another company's employees when to take their holiday. But on the other hand they can, of course, just say that there's no work for the next ten days and not to bother coming in.

It's enforced for permies at HBOS. They only half-heartedly enforced it for contractors.

Nobody else has given a toss.

[Cowboy Bob]

IIRC it's an FSA requirement. Whether you're monitored as contract staff is another matter.

As with BolshieBastard, I've worked for several banks as well and I've never come across this, therefore I doubt if it's an FSA requirement. I don't doubt that you may have been told that by your client at one time or other though.

One company has no right to tell another company's employees when to take their holiday. But on the other hand they can, of course, just say that there's no work for the next ten days and not to bother coming in.

[Moscow Mule]

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.

IIRC it's an FSA requirement. Whether you're monitored as contract staff is another matter.

[BolshieBastard]

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.

[moorfield]

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.

[thunderlizard]

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.

[G8_Summit]

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.

[Gonzo]

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.

[fiddlesticks]

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

[tay]

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.

[SueEllen]

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..............

[realityhack]

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.