Can my employer force me to exhaust all but seven days of my annual leave each year? This week Dr kirstinferguson tackles the question of leave. Send your questions about work, careers and leadership to contactkirstinferguson.com.
Each week, Dr Kirstin Ferguson tackles questions on the workplace, career and leadership in her advice column “
Annual leave is designed to help you get some rest during the year so I can understand why your employer might want you to do that. Accruing leave for no reason will mean you are not getting regular downtime, which can impact your wellbeing. When thinking about what is reasonable for your employer to ask of you, they need to consider your needs and those of the business, plus any customs of the business and how much excess leave you have accumulated.
As for not being able to have lunch at your desk, I can understand why you’re annoyed with that double standard. Can you ask your boss why that rule is in place for just your team and request a change?