DATE: 19th February 2021
TO: All Members Tesco Youghal
Re: Holiday Policy
Dear Member
Please see below copy of correspondence sent to Mr. Derek Moroney, Store Manager.
Yours sincerely
for Mandate Trade Union
Lorraine O’ Brien
Divisional Organiser
___________________________________________________________________________
By: email and post
REF: LOB/JOR
18th February 2021
Mr. Derek Moroney
Store Manager
Tesco
Mill Rd.
Youghal
Co. Cork
Re: Holiday Policy
Dear Mr. Moroney
I have been contacted by members in the store who are potentially adversely affected by management’s decision to deviate from the existing Tesco/Mandate Holiday Policy 2017 as reflected in the Tesco Holiday Policy 2021, in particular Section 8.a. Holiday Booking Windows.
As you are aware this section of the holiday policy contains a fair and transparent process which provides staff with a set window of opportunity to apply for their preferred annual leave requests. Importantly the window of opportunity is laid out in the policy which stipulates “In February, the holiday booking window opens and all colleagues will have a holiday review meeting with their Line Manager to confirm that their holiday entitlement is fully booked for the forthcoming holiday year. The holiday booking window closes on 1st March. Holidays must not be agreed until the booking holiday window has closed”
I understand the store have introduced their own holiday booking window which was posted on the notice board and stated that staff must have their holiday requests in by 6th February 2021 which is significantly different to the provisions of the previously mentioned policies. Moreover, it differs from the manner in which staff in other locations are treated for the purposes of holiday applications in that it gives the staff in Youghal a far shorter window of opportunity to plan annual leave with their families.
I am informed that management believe they can decide themselves what holiday booking window to implement and that neither the Tesco/Mandate 2017 policy nor the recently updated Tesco Holiday Policy are either relevant or apply in the store. As a consequence of this decision, all of our members were subjected to a significantly reduced window of opportunity to apply for holidays and moreover some of our members who attempted to object to the 6th February deadline imposed locally are now being told they will have to accept whatever holidays are assigned to them.
Obviously the above outlined is a blatant breach of the agreed policy with Mandate and the Company’s own policy, a situation which must be rectified. It is not within the gift of any store to deliberately breach policies which exist in the interest of fairness, transparency, consistency and to afford staff the opportunity to properly plan for their annual leave entitlements. The actions of management have caused unnecessary distress for our members at a time when they are expected to remain at work providing front line service for Tesco customers.
Given the above outlined I am seeking confirmation by return that any member who has been adversely affected as a result of the above outlined will be afforded the opportunity to request holidays in line with the applicable policies.
Yours sincerely
for Mandate Trade Union
Lorraine O’ Brien
Divisional Organiser