Taking holiday in your probation period.

[Ollie_M]

A question that has received divided opinion in the office. Would you take annual holiday during your probationary period of a new job?
Do you think its reflects badly on you to your employer? or the opposite?

Personally I will sacrifice any leave until all is signed, sealed and delivered?

[wiggy001]

I would ask for the leave if I could give a lot more than the usual required notice (as I might be disrupting others more who are training/handing over/otherwise reliant on me being in the office) and I would ask for it in a "please say if it is an issue" kind of way.

If I didn't feel comfortable asking for the leave I would probably be working for the wrong company.

[edc]

I have recently done just that. At the offer stage I informed my soon to be boss that I had booked holiday, it was some 6-7 weeks from my start date.

[944fan]

Ollie_M said:

Personally I will sacrifice any leave until all is signed, sealed and delivered?

What is signed, sealed and delivered? Do you think you are un-sackable after probation period has ended? A probation period just gives employers a way to get rid of you more quickly if you suck.

Under 2 years service and you can still be fired and have no come back in a tribunal for unfair dismissal.

Yes I would take holiday in probation period.

[PBDirector]

Depends on situation and the company size.

+ Notifying your employer in the interview stage that you have a pre-booked two week holiday - FINE.
+ Asking for three days off "to make a long weekend" after 10 weeks - FINE
+ Asking for 2 weeks off after 8 weeks in a 5-person company - TAKING THE PROVERBIAL

etc. etc.

In general I think any (not-pre-booked) holiday in the first 90-days is a no-no, but I do try to consider the pro-rata holiday accrual rate.

[bompey]

I would tell my new boss at the time of the offer if I had a holiday booked, it would be bad form just to arrive and announce you were going away. The odd day wouldnt hurt subject to there being cover and adequate notice, but as has been said you dont have any real security until at least 2 years in.

[HRL]

I'd take the holiday anyway. What difference does it make that you're on probation?

If you're crap then they'll let you go regardless. If you're valued then they shouldn't have a problem with you taking holiday you're entitled to take.

[iphonedyou]

Of course. Genuinely surprised that anybody would view that as an issue.

It's certainly never been a problem for any of my employers. Many people I know also made holidays clear prior to moving and acceptance thereof was essentially a requisite to their acceptance of the offer, as is also reasonable where made known.

At my current place the annual work ski trip email went round on my second day in the office. Which I accepted and went on three months later.

[andy-xr]

I've had it where holiday is unpaid in probation but is after the probation period has ended. The days are still taken off your allowance. Bit backwards, but i took them anyway as it was already booked.

[bitchstewie]

Why would any decent employer offer holiday during your probation period and then think badly of you for taking it?

I'm struggling to think of a single sensible reason why anyone would think taking it is some kind of "black mark".

[Jasandjules]

Normally people would note this during their interviews. However of course you can go on holiday. You have 20 plus days each year to take, even in your first year....

[MentalSarcasm]

Both my current job and previous one insisted that I use my annual leave during my probation period. In fact I've only been at my current place for 3 months and they've already reminded me to start booking some days off.

Everyone needs to unwind sooner or later, and if your probation period is a year long then working a solid year without any real down-time is going to have a serious effect on your mental wellbeing.

[liner33]

My employer refused me a holiday request to go on honeymoon , I'd been there two months and wanted a week off so just waited until the 3 months was up

If I was in the same position again I would take a refusal of a reasonable request to be a warning sign, it was in my case

[Mikeyjae]

Normally the question is asked during interview if you have any pre booked holidays and I am not aware of anybody who has failed to get the job if they have a holiday pre booked.

I cant see a problem with it, infact my company today emailed staff advising that employees take at least 1 week off per quarter to aid with work life rubbish plus it saves bottle necking of staff holidays during July/August/December.

Unless its a role critical part of you probation as in a course with limited dates that needs to be attended then ask for a holiday. If they say no it wont effect your probbtion and if it does consider your self lucky your out of that job.

[cat with a hat]

I wouldn't take any major holidays, but I would certainly start to take small holidays, by booking the odd day if required after around 4-5 weeks have passed.

I think its a bit weird not to take any holiday at all.

[L4CON]

I took holiday and even had a few days off sick during my 6 month probation at my current job. To me, the only difference during probation is that my notice period is shorter.

If someone was in a situation where their probation was more akin to a trial period then I could understand not taking holiday, otherwise I don't see what the problem is.

[megapixels83]

Personally I cannot see any problems with holiday leave in a probation period but I would be expecting my probationary period to be extended accordingly.