employment law

[k8bailey]

My partner is carpenter working for a small building firm in Wales. He has just been informed that the company has no work for my partner and two other employees tomorrow. The boss is making 2 of the employees take the day off as a holiday as they still have days owing, the other man is being forced to take the day off unpaid. Is any of this legal?

TIA k8

[Buenchico]

An employer is generally free to determine when his employees' holidays are taken. However he must provide reasonable notice, which seems not to be the case here.

Under most circumstances, any employee who is 'laid off' is entitled to be paid for the relevant period.
http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Employment/Redunda ncyAndLeavingYourJob/DG_10026693

Chris

[k8bailey]

Thanks Chris, looks like the employer is trying to get out of paying them by making them take holidays. The companys hours are mon-fri, 8am - 4pm the employees were informed at 3.50 on Thursday that they were being laid off for Friday. That's pretty unreasonable in my book!