The Student Room Group

Just started a job at Tesco- can i book an holiday?

Hey! :smile:
Been at Tesco for just under 3 weeks...although in my interview i didnt tell them i had a pre-booked holiday because i thought they wouldnt hire me lol.

So...my holiday is on 10th July for a week....am i allowed to book an holiday even though i would of only been there for about 2 months?

I'm asking because if i'm not allowed then i will just ring in sick for a week instead.

Thanks! :smile:

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If you are "sick" for a week they'll want a note from your doctor, I don't know Tesco's exact policy but most large employers won't take your word for more than 2/3 or so days.

You are entitled to holiday leave and unless there are already lots of people taking that week off on your department you should be fine.
Why don't you just simply ask them?
Reply 3
If you need holiday then you need holiday and they'll have to accomodate that.
You just reminded me, I too work at Tesco and need to book holiday when I'm at work tonight. :smile:
~chickydee~
Hey! :smile:
Been at Tesco for just under 3 weeks...although in my interview i didnt tell them i had a pre-booked holiday because i thought they wouldnt hire me lol.


My mum didn't hire someone because at interview they asked for a day off.
I don't think it would look great, but all you can do is ask.
To be honest I think you owe it to your employer to ask them at least. They will probably be more flexible than you expect.
By not mentioning this in your interview and then messing them around by phoning in... I don't think that's right.
As long as you give them sufficient notice it shouldn't be too much of a problem. If they say you can't have the holiday then just resign. Just figure out which is better, a holiday in Turkey or a job in Tesco. Seems pretty straightforward to me :biggrin:
Reply 7
It makes no difference, especially if you've been there for 3 weeks!

Just ask for a holiday form, they have to respond within a week. You should (no guarantees) et it off because its not necessarily in the main holiday season, but its still a bit risky.

I took two weeks off the week after I started so they dont hold it against you at all, you'll just find you're a bit rusty when you go back haha.

Oh, and if they say 'why didnt you mention it?' say you did, then name a manager thats increasingly forgetful. Just say you mentioned it, but no details were asked. That's how I got my paintballing weekend off ^_^

I still think you should have said something to begin with though.
Charlurr
It makes no difference, especially if you've been there for 3 weeks!

Just ask for a holiday form, they have to respond within a week. You should (no guarantees) et it off because its not necessarily in the main holiday season, but its still a bit risky.

I took two weeks off the week after I started so they dont hold it against you at all, you'll just find you're a bit rusty when you go back haha.

Oh, and if they say 'why didnt you mention it?' say you did, then name a manager thats increasingly forgetful. Just say you mentioned it, but no details were asked. That's how I got my paintballing weekend off ^_^

I still think you should have said something to begin with though.


i dont think thats really a good idea, because its just gonna create conflict if you lie and they found out. and she wouldnt know which manger is increasingly forgetful after being there for just under 3 weeks.

i would advise telling them asap and they usually require 4 weeks notice but be completely honest :smile:

good luck
i work for tesco + generally there very good with flexibility.

just ask for a holiday form.
they'll be fine :smile:

+ if they dont give it you off just ask for a week unpaid leave :smile:
because if its a booked exteranl holiday you have to be given the option of time to have it off :smile:
Reply 10
The OP wont be entitley to paid time off yet anyway :smile: so yeah, if you speak to your manager they'll give you the time off. Just say it was arranged before you got the job and you forgot about mentioning it / thought you had.
Reply 11
Errr.. they will? You're entitled to paid holiday from the start at Tesco, no sick pay, but definitely holiday pay.

Or I was when I started, at least "/
*Star*Guitar*
My mum didn't hire someone because at interview they asked for a day off.


The last two job interviews I had the interviewers asked whether or not there was any pre-booked holidays they should be notified about. If that is the case for full-time work then I'm buggered - I've got 2 weeks off during the summer, but I'd like to think employers would know you'd book a holiday during the summer.
yeh dw about it should be fine you can't be fired for it anyway :smile:
Charlurr
Errr.. they will? You're entitled to paid holiday from the start at Tesco, no sick pay, but definitely holiday pay.

Or I was when I started, at least "/


I think it's still the case. It's done on a pro-rata basis (details in the staff handbook)
~chickydee~
Hey! :smile:


So...my holiday is on 10th July for a week....am i allowed to book an holiday even though i would of only been there for about 2 months?


tbh i think you've left it a bit late. I don't work in Tescos but in another supermarket and we have to normally give a months notice but because of the summer it is now two months. You'll be allowed to book it but it doesn't mean that they will give it to you.
twinkle.twinkle
tbh i think you've left it a bit late. I don't work in Tescos but in another supermarket and we have to normally give a months notice but because of the summer it is now two months. You'll be allowed to book it but it doesn't mean that they will give it to you.


Not in Tesco. They ask for 4 weeks notice of holidays (Scheduling is supposed to be done in blocks of 4 weeks) regardless of the time of year.

You may not get the holiday, but there are other ways around it such as unpaid leave, working the time back, shift swaps etc. Speak to your Manager or Team Leader.
Scotsman1988
Not in Tesco. They ask for 4 weeks notice of holidays (Scheduling is supposed to be done in blocks of 4 weeks) regardless of the time of year.

You may not get the holiday, but there are other ways around it such as unpaid leave, working the time back, shift swaps etc. Speak to your Manager or Team Leader.


one month is 4 weeks :smile:
tokyorose888
one month is 4 weeks :smile:


yes, I know that...I am not stupid. I was responding to:

because of the summer it is now two months
Scotsman1988
Not in Tesco. They ask for 4 weeks notice of holidays (Scheduling is supposed to be done in blocks of 4 weeks) regardless of the time of year.

You may not get the holiday, but there are other ways around it such as unpaid leave, working the time back, shift swaps etc. Speak to your Manager or Team Leader.


In my Tesco,you give a LOT of notice. The holiday yearis split into two halves, and you have four month windows to book holidays in. So between January and April you book the holiday for April-October. And from July to Occtober you book your holidays for November-April.

Op,you aren;t entitled to paid leave yet. Tesco do it pro rata. So by working for three weeks, you wont have earned any paid days off yet.

Why didnt you mention this holiday at your induction? They have to honour pre-arranged holidays mentioned upon induction, but after that there's no guarentee at all.