Holiday rules

Re: Holiday rules

Hannah Wynne Richards — Thu, 21 Jun 2012 11:24:54 GMT

Sounds sensible to me

Wynne

Re: Holiday rules

Claire Fisher — Thu, 21 Jun 2012 10:49:04 GMT

Our rules are very similar - there are 5 full timers, soon to be 6.

We can only have one vet off at a time - means there are still enough if someone is at CPD/sick/other emergency. Officially the maximum at one time is 2 weeks holiday but I've been allowed 3 this year to visit my sister in Australia and only 1 of our holiday weeks may be taken as odd days.

Re: Holiday rules

Jo Cobbett — Thu, 21 Jun 2012 10:28:31 GMT

[quote user="Neil Wheadon"]

[quote user="Jo Jones"]We are allowed maximum of 2 consecutive weeks off at a time.[/quote]

The practices I've seen work this one vet rule away and is completely understandable, but why this one? It's quite common, but if you're going somewhere a long way away, it can be 4 days travelling there and back.

Neil

[/quote]

Longer periods of leave are considered if there are special factors and sufficient notice. I'm guessing it's just a case of trying to fit everyone's holiday in, especially at popular times. If one or two vets take a month off in the summer, there's little time for everyone else to fit their holiday in and still enjoy the blazing sunshine and cloud free skies we get in the UK in the summer months.... Oh wait, it's the longest day today and we currently have torrential rain!!

If we want a particular week off, it usually needs booking at least a year in advance to give you a chance of having the week you want.

Re: Holiday rules

Hannah Wynne Richards — Thu, 21 Jun 2012 10:13:09 GMT

Hey Gillian People seem tobe mixing us up

Wynne

Re: Holiday rules

Gillian Mostyn — Wed, 20 Jun 2012 21:19:19 GMT

My vet assistant is currently in Japan.....for a month!

Re: Holiday rules

Neil Wheadon — Wed, 20 Jun 2012 20:26:51 GMT

[quote user="Jo Jones"]We are allowed maximum of 2 consecutive weeks off at a time.[/quote]

Neil

Re: Holiday rules

Gillian Mostyn — Wed, 20 Jun 2012 19:45:34 GMT

[quote user="Martin Atkinson"]As Gilian says if the practice can cope with half the staff missing it is over-staffed. [/quote]

Not me actually..

Re: Holiday rules

Martin Atkinson — Wed, 20 Jun 2012 19:32:28 GMT

I presume anon that the question has been posed because you've been stopped from taking time off while when someone has already booked a holiday. I would then ask that if you were one of the ones left working when the practice was short staffed would you enjoy struggling with the extra workload necessary to cope? As Gilian says if the practice can cope with half the staff missing it is over-staffed. Not a problem I have being sole charge if I want a holiday I have to pay for a locum. But we have a similar rule with nurses, however it is flexible and if the one(s) left behind are willing to work the overtime then we allowed some leeway, the problem then is if you are working at the limit of manpower if someone throws a sicky you're stuffed. Does sound as though more efficient use of the part times could be considered though.

Re: Holiday rules

Gillian Mostyn — Wed, 20 Jun 2012 16:27:08 GMT

As has been said, the employer can stipulate anything they like...it is up to you to decide what rules you are prepared to work under. However, I would say that in a small practice it is certainly the norm that only one vet be absent at any one time. However, if you have a lot of part timers and everyone is happy to change or increase their hours to cover other staff, I can't see why this would be a problem? That can be the major benefit of having part-time staff, afterall.

Re: Holiday rules

Michael Woodhouse — Wed, 20 Jun 2012 16:01:11 GMT

If those are the rules and they are made clear to everyone then those are the rules.

Your employer can legally specify the days holiday you will take in a year. They can only let you have Wednesdays off. They can do pretty much what they like so long as you get the legal minimum days off.

Re: Holiday rules

Hannah Wynne Richards — Wed, 20 Jun 2012 15:27:41 GMT

4 FTE veterinary surgeons means if 2 are off the practice is only 1/2 staffed If it can cope then there's room for economising by sacking someone

Wynne

Re: Holiday rules

Jo Cobbett — Wed, 20 Jun 2012 13:43:33 GMT

We have 5 full time and 3 part time vets across 2 branches, and we are allowed 2 vets off at a time (on Fridays those 2 vets include the vet who has worked the preceeding weekend and gets the following Friday off in lieu). This includes the part time vets. We are allowed maximum of 2 consecutive weeks off at a time.