Holiday Approved - Manager now wants to cancel/shorten it
Discussion
Seeking some advice for my brother here.
He booked a holiday back in May to travel over xmas and into January. His manager approved the time off he requested (17 days). Like most, he ended up working from home during the summer lockdown as well.
Since July the Gov have introduced the 14 days self-isolation for travellers returning to the UK from places that are not on the exempted list and he's travelling to a non-exempted place (as of today, anyway).
As he'll now need to self-isolate on return to the UK in January and thus he's informed his manager that he plans on working from home during the self-isolation period. However this has now kicked off and his manager has asked him to cancel his holiday or shorten it to 10 days.
So where does he stand? The holiday was approved prior to the new Gov rules, it's all booked and paid for as well and he can easily work from home.
Advice welcome!
He booked a holiday back in May to travel over xmas and into January. His manager approved the time off he requested (17 days). Like most, he ended up working from home during the summer lockdown as well.
Since July the Gov have introduced the 14 days self-isolation for travellers returning to the UK from places that are not on the exempted list and he's travelling to a non-exempted place (as of today, anyway).
As he'll now need to self-isolate on return to the UK in January and thus he's informed his manager that he plans on working from home during the self-isolation period. However this has now kicked off and his manager has asked him to cancel his holiday or shorten it to 10 days.
So where does he stand? The holiday was approved prior to the new Gov rules, it's all booked and paid for as well and he can easily work from home.
Advice welcome!
They can do more than enforce a change of length. An employer can legally cancel your leave as long as they give you notice of at least the same length of leave you are taking plus one day . In this case then no later than 18 working days before the leave begins.
Edited by craigjm on Monday 26th October 21:13
The policy where I work is that if I go on holiday to a country where I know that I’ll have to quarantine upon return, I won’t get paid for the quarantine period (even though I have been working from home since March).
I would be paid in the quarantine period if the status changed whilst on holiday.
I suspect that this policy is common across a lot of companies in the UK- and your brother’s manager is making a faff of applying it.
I would be paid in the quarantine period if the status changed whilst on holiday.
I suspect that this policy is common across a lot of companies in the UK- and your brother’s manager is making a faff of applying it.
Jasandjules said:
AS noted above under the Working Time your employer can direct the dates you take holiday.
In addition, you say he "intends" to work from home and can easily do so. Does that mean he is not currently required to work from home?
No, he's back working in the office. In addition, you say he "intends" to work from home and can easily do so. Does that mean he is not currently required to work from home?
craigjm said:
They can do more than enforce a change of length. An employer can legally cancel your leave as long as they give you notice of at least the same length of leave you are taking plus one day . In this case then no later than 18 working days before the leave begins.
Wow, I didnt know this!irocfan said:
given that at this point it is quite possible that there will be financial penalties for cancelling will his company reimburse him for that?
They are under no obligation to do so but they can in some circumstances open themselves up to possible constructive dismissal if they are not absolutely meticulous in the way they deal with it craigjm said:
irocfan said:
given that at this point it is quite possible that there will be financial penalties for cancelling will his company reimburse him for that?
They are under no obligation to do so but they can in some circumstances open themselves up to possible constructive dismissal if they are not absolutely meticulous in the way they deal with it 
did not realise that! Just an update. No change in this situation for my brother. Also seems he still has to work in the office during this next lockdown, even though he (and all this team) can work from home Apparently providing businesses employment and tax law advise is essential business (according to his management)...
Densetsu said:
Just an update. No change in this situation for my brother. Also seems he still has to work in the office during this next lockdown, even though he (and all this team) can work from home Apparently providing businesses employment and tax law advise is essential business (according to his management)...
Can’t see that lasting long to be honest.Densetsu said:
Just an update. No change in this situation for my brother. Also seems he still has to work in the office during this next lockdown, even though he (and all this team) can work from home Apparently providing businesses employment and tax law advise is essential business (according to his management)...
Hang on..... he provides employment law advise and he didn’t know about employers rights with holidays. Densetsu said:
Seeking some advice for my brother here.
He booked a holiday back in May to travel over xmas and into January. His manager approved the time off he requested (17 days). Like most, he ended up working from home during the summer lockdown as well.
Since July the Gov have introduced the 14 days self-isolation for travellers returning to the UK from places that are not on the exempted list and he's travelling to a non-exempted place (as of today, anyway).
As he'll now need to self-isolate on return to the UK in January and thus he's informed his manager that he plans on working from home during the self-isolation period. However this has now kicked off and his manager has asked him to cancel his holiday or shorten it to 10 days.
So where does he stand? The holiday was approved prior to the new Gov rules, it's all booked and paid for as well and he can easily work from home.
Advice welcome!
I think the manager is wrong to question the approved holiday.He booked a holiday back in May to travel over xmas and into January. His manager approved the time off he requested (17 days). Like most, he ended up working from home during the summer lockdown as well.
Since July the Gov have introduced the 14 days self-isolation for travellers returning to the UK from places that are not on the exempted list and he's travelling to a non-exempted place (as of today, anyway).
As he'll now need to self-isolate on return to the UK in January and thus he's informed his manager that he plans on working from home during the self-isolation period. However this has now kicked off and his manager has asked him to cancel his holiday or shorten it to 10 days.
So where does he stand? The holiday was approved prior to the new Gov rules, it's all booked and paid for as well and he can easily work from home.
Advice welcome!
In any case, it's your brother's responsibility to care for quarantine if he went in a position to do so. When that interferes with work requirements, he would have to have unpaid holidays outside his time off.
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