Having a bad day/week/month

Re: Having a bad day/week/month

Gillian Mostyn — Mon, 02 Dec 2013 13:05:39 GMT

ok...maybe I phrased it badly but I meant the same thing. Most contracts state leave as ... days plus bank holidays as most places are shut - so deciding not to take a bank holiday as leave is not an option. There is no entitlement to the actual bank holiday days, but there is still entitlement to a day off in lieu!

Re: Having a bad day/week/month

Evelyn Barbour-Hill — Mon, 02 Dec 2013 11:57:27 GMT

[quote user="Martin Atkinson"] In the UK for someone who has been in continual employment for more than 6 months they are entitled to 5.6 weeks holiday which equates to 28 days for a 5 day week. This included bank holidays so as there are 8 bank holidays this is effectively 5 weeks.[/quote]

Yep. Bank holidays can be counted as part of legal holiday entitlement.

Re: Having a bad day/week/month

Martin Atkinson — Mon, 02 Dec 2013 09:06:54 GMT

[quote user="Gillian Mostyn"]Same- If you get bank holidays off then you wouldn't count it in your annual leave, if you worked it then it would be a day off in lieu.[/quote] In the UK for someone who has been in continual employment for more than 6 months they are entitled to 5.6 weeks holiday which equates to 28 days for a 5 day week. This includes bank holidays so as there are 8 bank holidays this is effectively 20 days or 4 weeks not including bank holidays.

How this can be taken may be determined by contract, for example my nurses are only allowed 2 weeks at a time and can only take leave if no-one else has already booked and cover is available. They have to give at least one month's notice or a week if they want an odd day. This is open to flexibility on discussion.

Re: Having a bad day/week/month

Gillian Mostyn — Mon, 02 Dec 2013 08:03:21 GMT

[quote user="Braden Collins"]Do bank holidays count as holiday days in the UK? In Australia if someone is on holidays when a bank holiday falls it is not counted as a days holiday.[/quote]

Same- If you get bank holidays off then you wouldn't count it in your annual leave, if you worked it then it would be a day off in lieu.

Re: Having a bad day/week/month

Braden Collins — Mon, 02 Dec 2013 06:04:32 GMT

Do bank holidays count as holiday days in the UK? In Australia if someone is on holidays when a bank holiday falls it is not counted as a days holiday.

We can only refuse to grant someone leave here if it will adversely affect the business, and can't otherwise reasonably refuse.

Re: Having a bad day/week/month

Linda Filshie — Mon, 02 Dec 2013 00:51:40 GMT

How weird. It was there before (and I've used it before) but seems to be gone from my post too. Gremlins!

Re: Having a bad day/week/month

Suzanne Kelly — Sun, 01 Dec 2013 23:49:02 GMT

Can't delete them, it won't give me the option, I've turned them into full stops instead. My computer is not behaving itself tonight. Oh well.

Re: Having a bad day/week/month

Linda Filshie — Sun, 01 Dec 2013 22:47:52 GMT

You can delete them yourself if you click on the grey/black "more options" box at the bottom of the relevant post and select "delete".

Re: Having a bad day/week/month

Suzanne Kelly — Sun, 01 Dec 2013 22:35:42 GMT

Whoops! Kept getting error messages so tried about 10 times to post that. Looks like the message will appear 10 times. Arlo can you delete the surplus ones?

Re: Having a bad day/week/month

Suzanne Kelly — Sun, 01 Dec 2013 22:31:38 GMT

Hi Anons. Everyone has times when they feel like crap and hate being a vet. Well I do and most vets I know do too! There are very rewarding aspects of the job too, but sometimes you're just so emotionally worn down and broken that everything is hard. Anon3 you sound like you're broken and your posts are worrying. It's not always possible to talk to a friend or family member because you don't want to freak them out by telling them what's really inside your head. Or you try but they don't really listen. Friends and family are not equipped to deal with emotionally fragile people. It puts them out of their comfort zone and they don't know what to say or do, so they try and suggest "helpful" things to fix you or else they withdraw. There are people who are qualified to help you. Speaking from a personal point of view, I found talking to a complete stranger hugely helpful ( a counsellor.) Well not at the start. At the start I thought it was pointless and unhelpful and irritating and taking up time I didn't have. To be honest I hated going, but looking back it was enormously helpful during a particularly challenging period of my life.

Our job can be hugely stressful and difficult. It's hard enough if you're feeling bright eyed and bushy tailed yourself, but if you're not it can be impossible to care for your patients and your clients. Especially if you feel that no-one is caring for you.

From a currently bright eyed and bushy tailed Suzanne

Re: Having a bad day/week/month

Suzanne Kelly — Sun, 01 Dec 2013 22:30:53 GMT

Re: Having a bad day/week/month

Rob Loxley — Sun, 01 Dec 2013 22:30:01 GMT

[quote user="Evelyn Barbour-Hill"]go to the doctor and get himself signed off sick with "stress"[/quote]

and if you don't take a break you may well end up there...

Re: Having a bad day/week/month

Suzanne Kelly — Sun, 01 Dec 2013 22:28:26 GMT

Re: Having a bad day/week/month

Suzanne Kelly — Sun, 01 Dec 2013 22:27:17 GMT

Re: Having a bad day/week/month

Suzanne Kelly — Sun, 01 Dec 2013 22:24:23 GMT

Re: Having a bad day/week/month

Evelyn Barbour-Hill — Sun, 01 Dec 2013 21:58:03 GMT

[quote user="Sylvia Wilson"]

However, the employer is entitled to set specific dates for holidays (e.g. on public holidays) and to refuse specific requests for leave if they are detrimental to the business, so long as the worker is not prevented from taking their minimum legal allowance (5.6 weeks) in any given year.

[/quote]

Sure, but if the end of the year is in sight and the employer has set no holiday, I'd think that in effect the employee can just take the holiday. If the employer gets awkward, there's all the unfair dismissal and constructive dismissal (oh, a good one, the latter!) legislation on the employee's side.

The other thing the OP could do, if his professional conscience will let him, is go to the doctor and get himself signed off sick with "stress".

Re: Having a bad day/week/month

Sylvia Wilson — Sun, 01 Dec 2013 19:45:08 GMT

[quote user="Evelyn Barbour-Hill"]

[quote user="sam aldridge"]Breaks can be arranged - and would be in this situation [/quote]

I'll just repeat in case it was missed: the employee is entitled by law to paid holidays – it's not a matter of a benevolent employer "arranging a break". Which implies to my mind that if this employee can't arrange a suitable date sharpish with this employer he's entitled to just book it and go. Legal eagles abound on this forum so I expect one will correct me if I am wrong.

[/quote]

I absolutely agree that the worker (not just employee) is entitled by law to paid holidays, and it is essential for everyone to take time off. No-one can work effectively if they are tired out and stressed as the OP appears to be. However, the employer is entitled to set specific dates for holidays (e.g. on public holidays) and to refuse specific requests for leave if they are detrimental to the business, so long as the worker is not prevented from taking their minimum legal allowance (5.6 weeks) in any given year.

IMO, not being prepared to provide locum cover does not count as "detrimental to the business".

Re: Having a bad day/week/month

Mark Hedberg — Sun, 01 Dec 2013 14:17:31 GMT

Where I work it's 21 days notice, but usually the boss is quite accomodating; if something is truly urgent or simply couldn't be predicted then a short period of leave is usually granted.

Re: Having a bad day/week/month

Gillian Mostyn — Sun, 01 Dec 2013 14:00:25 GMT

yep - by law you are entitled to holidays, but when they are taken can be stipulated by your employer. An employee doesn't actually have any legal right to state any particular time......

HOWEVER, you are entitled to a certain amount of rest time and days off, regardless of the staffing levels!

Re: Having a bad day/week/month

Michael Woodhouse — Sun, 01 Dec 2013 00:16:58 GMT

Just sorted out a contract for a new assistant. She has is supposed to give 4 week notice and clear it by one of us before booking anything. It is written into the contract we can specify when the holiday will be taken (ie it's bank holiday Monday, you're not working, that's one of your holidays).

Re: Having a bad day/week/month

Evelyn Barbour-Hill — Sun, 01 Dec 2013 00:01:17 GMT

[quote user="sam aldridge"]Breaks can be arranged - and would be in this situation [/quote]

Re: Having a bad day/week/month

sam aldridge — Sat, 30 Nov 2013 22:47:29 GMT

Anon 1, I may be wrong but I have a feeling I know who you work for, with the reference to the hours. Please PM me, as if this is the case then I can help or get someone to help you. Breaks can be arranged - and would be in this situation and your welfare is paramount.

Re: Having a bad day/week/month

tess — Sat, 30 Nov 2013 17:18:41 GMT

I'd agree with the fact that getting older affects the way you deal with things.

A lot of the time we don't always know the back story of people's grumpiness or aggression. We just happen to be in the firing line on that particular day. Most of the time it's not personal either.

We have a mantra of "smother them with kindness" which seems to work (most of the time!).

Re: Having a bad day/week/month

Hannah Wynne Richards — Fri, 29 Nov 2013 10:37:22 GMT

Anon 1 It sounds as though you're a branch manager for 1 of the corporates - all the disadvantages of practice ownership, and none of the advantages. It may be the set upthat's the problem,not the veterinary job itself.

Julie I'm in 100% agreement with you about the 80/20 rule. I'm far happier, as well as more prosperous with a small practice, and loyal,bonded, mainly insured clients than I was when I was trying to expand.

Arlo. Despite my profound ignorance of children, I thought a beige carpet wasn't a good idea. It can work quite well with a Golden Retriever!

Wynne

Re: Having a bad day/week/month

Mark Holmes — Fri, 29 Nov 2013 09:03:31 GMT

Understaffing - would that be one of those expensive forms of cost cutting?