Can I be denied a requested day off?

[Superstar*13]

Can I be denied a requested day off when I have a sub but management said I could switch my relief day for my requested day with my sub. So basically I have Monday as my relief day. I requested a Saturday off weeks ago. I was told that the only way I could have Saturday off is if I work my Monday and take Saturday as my relief day off? That doesn't seem right . We have a 6 route office and there are 3 rcas one of them is my sub but they have him on other routes all week filling in for everybody else. She said it was only way she could use it as my x day. I thought my sub was too be available for any of the time needed for my time I want off?

 

[Bud Budderly]

I thought my sub was too be available for any of the time needed for my time I want off?

Annual leave requests are to be granted in accordance with your personal wishes provided a leave replacement is available. If the sub who has your route as their primary had already been scheduled to serve another route when you put in your AL request then they are considered "unavailable" and your leave can be denied (this presumes all of the other subs were scheduled and unavailable as well).

On the other hand, if the PM didn't deny your request within the 3-5 day window that they now have since the new contract was ratified on March 22, then your leave should be considered approved. I'm a little confused based on your explanation, about what your PM said about moving relief days. As far as I know, the only time a relief day is moved is when it falls on a holiday, in which case it moves to the day prior.

 

[Voglio-il mio]

As far as I know, the only time a relief day is moved is when it falls on a holiday, in which case it moves to the day prior.

There is a round about way to change your relief day within the same week. If required to work your relief day, you can be issued an X day to be used within that same week!

 

[Bud Budderly]

There is a round about way to change your relief day within the same week. If required to work your relief day, you can be issued an X day to be used within that same week!

Ah OK so the PM is just talking about using an "X" day not moving their N\S day? Not sure how calling it an "X" day solves the sub unavailability problem for the OP though especially since the PM has some discretion over when "X" days are used. I must be missing something--maybe the OP can elaborate as to whether she requested AL on Saturday or the use of an "X" day since different rules apply.

 

[Voglio-il mio]

Ah OK so the PM is just talking about using an "X" day not moving their N\S day? Not sure how calling it an "X" day solves the sub unavailability problem for the OP though especially since the PM has some discretion over when "X" days are used. I must be missing something--maybe the OP can elaborate as to whether she requested AL on Saturday or the use of an "X" day since different rules apply.

Just a guess, but maybe the PM has somebody with a Saturday relief day that is willing to change it to a Monday (using the X day option as well) for that one week in essence to accommodate the availability of RCA's as a result of your request to have Saturday off.

 

[Dumbassclerksyndrome]

Do not bend to this postmasters wishes. Your annual day that you’re requesting on Saturday should be approved if there’s an RCA available. Switching days should not be an acceptable practice in order for an annual day to be given. You are not required to switch days off in order to get your annual day. Additionally, if you take the Saturday off and your relief day is Monday you’ll have a three day weekend.

 

[Voglio-il mio]

Do not bend to this postmasters wishes. Your annual day that you’re requesting on Saturday should be approved if there’s an RCA available. Switching days should not be an acceptable practice in order for an annual day to be given. You are not required to switch days off in order to get your annual day. Additionally, if you take the Saturday off and your relief day is Monday you’ll have a three day weekend.

I agree with what you are saying but it sounds like an RCA is not available, so the PM is just trying to make the best out of the situation to find a way to accommodate the request. Not all PM's are A Holes, mine will work with us to make the best of a situation! This shortage of RCA's is causing all of us to be creative.

 

[oi veh.]

opening back up for OP to add add'l info.

 

[She mails rural]

Our pm is just denying all leave within 3 days and writing will revisit week prior. See doesn't matter what contact says they are always gonna find away out of doing the right thing and get by with it. I don't know why it can't be granted concerning its 60 days out and then the pm put coverage on there the week prior. No always the other way around! Stupid denying leave that's 60 says out don't make sence dang if it can't be covered by then something more is wrong. Mean hateful, flat out wrong, can't plan ahead for anything!

 

[oi veh.]

@She mails rural - i understand you wanting to commiserate, but the question forum is for questions to be answered, not for general discussion.

thank you.

 

[gotstamps]

There is a round about way to change your relief day within the same week. If required to work your relief day, you can be issued an X day to be used within that same week!

In this case, the Relief Day is after the day the OP is requesting off so this does not apply. The OP would have to use an ”Earned“ X-day first before earning another on their Relief Day.

 

[gotstamps]

Our pm is just denying all leave within 3 days and writing will revisit week prior. See doesn't matter what contact says they are always gonna find away out of doing the right thing and get by with it. I don't know why it can't be granted concerning its 60 days out and then the pm put coverage on there the week prior. No always the other way around! Stupid denying leave that's 60 says out don't make sence dang if it can't be covered by then something more is wrong. Mean hateful, flat out wrong, can't plan ahead for anything!

File a grievance every time it’s denied! There is no “revisit” clause in the contract. It’s either a Yes or No, NOT a “maybe”.

 

[She mails rural]

In a round about wrong way I was asking how is it a no out the gate? I'm sure the revisit isn't a option and I will file the paper work but how do I address the denied part when the pm gave it back timley?

 

[gotstamps]

In a round about wrong way I was asking how is it a no out the gate? I'm sure the revisit isn't a option and I will file the paper work but how do I address the denied part when the pm gave it back timley?

“Does mgmt have Just Cause to deny my Request Leave for ##/##/##?”

 

[EthelAnne]

In a round about wrong way I was asking how is it a no out the gate? I'm sure the revisit isn't a option and I will file the paper work but how do I address the denied part when the pm gave it back timley?

In order to deny leave, management has to show no leave replacement is available on the date requested. File the grievance. Contact your union rep for guidance.

 

[She mails rural]

Ok so today we were told that don't be mad but leave slips are going to be denied because of no coverage and don't put any leave in unless its only 30 days out. So when I got back off rt today several of us had denied leave and some had resubmit again 30 days out. Some had denied no coverage. Nothing was over 60 days out. So now what do I do about this anyone know please? We have subs we have subs from other offices even. Pm said in stand up they were leaning towards making a formula office because we want leave and they have tried to hire and can't. So does anyone have any advice?

 

[Dumbassclerksyndrome]

Ok so today we were told that don't be mad but leave slips are going to be denied because of no coverage and don't put any leave in unless its only 30 days out. So when I got back off rt today several of us had denied leave and some had resubmit again 30 days out. Some had denied no coverage. Nothing was over 60 days out. So now what do I do about this anyone know please? We have subs we have subs from other offices even. Pm said in stand up they were leaning towards making a formula office because we want leave and they have tried to hire and can't. So does anyone have any advice?

Contact your steward. If no in office steward, contact DR. You can find yours by going to the national website and going to the bottom of the page and it says find steward.

 

[psd181]

Ok so today we were told that don't be mad but leave slips are going to be denied because of no coverage and don't put any leave in unless its only 30 days out. So when I got back off rt today several of us had denied leave and some had resubmit again 30 days out. Some had denied no coverage. Nothing was over 60 days out. So now what do I do about this anyone know please? We have subs we have subs from other offices even. Pm said in stand up they were leaning towards making a formula office because we want leave and they have tried to hire and can't. So does anyone have any advice?

Sounds like a bunch of folks in your office are going to make an extra day's pay every day......... hell, I would file a 3971 for everyday so he/she could deny it.......... ok, that's fine. BTW, you owe me a day's pay for not being off........ in several months when the grievance is settled, I might have a $20,000 back pay for not being allowed to take off those days I wanted off.

 

[She mails rural]

Oh ok ill try that but I'm not sure how you think I'll be paid but anything is possible I guess. So should we resubmit them at 30 days out or just leave it like it is? I just don't get how some our getting approved for a week in May and July already and some can't get 1 day off 60 days from now. I thought it was first come first serve? Thank you for your guidance. Have a great day

 

[btdtret]

She mails rural -- "Ok so today we were told that don't be mad but leave slips are going to be denied because of no coverage and don't put any leave in unless its only 30 days out."

-- Should be an easy grievance to win as it goes against the new wording of the new contract.

-- And as usual, grieve any denied leave. And keep the denied leave request for future reference, if or when 2080 /2240 issues appear.

-- You could point out to manglement that they could literally pull someone ( willing ) off the street and with almost 2 months of daily training, the person should be ready to perform as an RCA. So the usual "RCA not available" excuse does not really fly any more. Hopefully it will speed up the hiring process.

"I thought it was first come first serve?"

-- That used to be the rule, but seniority now prevails in the new contract.

"Pm said in stand up they were leaning towards making a formula office because we want leave and they have tried to hire and can't."

-- They can "lean" all they want, but if they can't show they have followed the steps outlined in the Step 4 (F-57), there could be difficulties in going "formula". Let you Assistant District Representative know of manglement's "leaning" towards going "formula".