After taking a hard line on Openreach employees taking their annual leave, forcing our members to take leave in quarterly blocks or face loosing it, It seems the company is now briefing its management “after significant pressure from the CWU locally and nationally” to use a softer approach with their team members. emails with details on clarification of annual leave has now been sent to members and their managers.
the following has been sent to members
Clarification on managing annual leave this year
It’s important for your physical and mental wellbeing to use your annual leave and have some time away from work. Unfortunately COVID-19 has meant that UK and international holidays are currently not possible due to current government restrictions, we recognise how disappointing this is but this shouldn’t prevent you taking time off to rest.
Please spread your annual leave throughout the year so that you get regular breaks and the business has the right operational capacity it needs to support our customers and safeguard its financial future. We currently have significant availability over the summer period, when the weather is likely to be warmer, and we encourage you to make the most of this.
the following has been sent to managers
Clarification on managing annual leave this year
It’s important that you help your team use their annual leave allowance throughout the year. Some of your team may have circumstances that mean they won’t be able to use all of their carried over leave by the end of June, or half of their annual leave by the end of September 2020. You know your team and we ask that you apply a reasonable and pragmatic approach, supporting them to take leave at relatively even periods throughout the year.
By regularly reviewing leave balances, you can prevent members of your team potentially losing their outstanding annual leave at the end of Q4, as there may be limited availability at that time.
We currently have significant availability over the summer period and people should be encouraged to make the most of this.
we thank all the members of GLC branch who raised this issue with us.