Feeling Cheated on Holidays: How Should I Handle Unfair Work Schedule Changes?

I have been working for this firm for the past 16 years and got transferred from HO to the Factory site 5 years ago. Initially, I was informed that my holiday list and 2nd to 4th Saturday holidays would follow the HO schedule (15 days of holiday), while here at the Plant, it is 14 days. Everything went smoothly at first, but now they have changed my holiday list to align with the Factory site. The issue now is that we work 6 days a week, and the holiday list is decided based on the unit heads’ choices. If there is an occasion on the 2nd or 4th Saturday, it is counted as a holiday, resulting in me losing one or two public holidays. Isn't this unfair? I am the only one deprived of all the public holidays, losing one or two in a year.

Lack of Commitment from Management

Firstly, there is a lack of commitment from the management, and they are unwilling to provide compensation. Instead, they insist that I follow the Factory rule of working 6 days a week. I am in a dilemma. What should I do? Can I approach the Labor Commissioner or anyone who has faced a similar issue?

Thank you.

At times, we become so self-centric that we overlook the actual possibilities. I am sure that when you are transferred to the Factory, there would be some financial benefits the company would have extended. Also, the tenure of your association with the company shows that it is a good place to work at. Just for a day or two, why do you want to spoil your long association with the company?

Say you had been working at the HO and the National or Festive holiday falls on the 2nd or 4th Saturday. In that case too, will you do this? How do you expect the company to form different policies for individual employees? You need to accept the change and adjust to the current scenario.

You can always talk with your boss or director if he, on a personal level, can do something, but I would never suggest you visit a Labor Commissioner.

Well, the decision is yours.

Regards,
Hiral

At the time of joining, you might have received an offer letter stating that the company reserves the right to send you on deputation, transfer, or assignment to any of the company's branch offices in India or abroad. Accordingly, if you were deputed for some period (i.e., 1 to 2 months) without being transferred, the head office terms and conditions are applicable. However, if you were transferred to the factory site and are on their roles, you must obey the rules followed at the site.

My advice is not to complicate the issue. Discuss this with your management, as you have been serving for such a long period, and they might find some other way to satisfy you. It is at the discretion of the management whether to favor you or not. If you receive a negative result, do not get upset and continue your service.

Regards,
Ramesh Vuriti

Both the members have given absolutely appropriate advice, considering various aspects of your career from the point of view of HR. Holidays or leave should never be an issue for someone who has dedicated more than two decades for some reasons.

There are millions of employees toiling with 10 to 12 hours of work a day and still not confirmed in their roles even after years of service. Therefore, do not allow such trivial or insignificant things to overshadow your wisdom and jeopardize your career. Remember, a career is a journey, and we all need to cross milestones along the way.

All the best.

Regards,
V. Rangarajan.

Please check the offer of employment issued to you. There may be some clause regarding working hours or holiday policies. It will be mentioned that you will be eligible for holidays as per the practices of your work location, and you must adhere to the working hours specified for your work location.

Therefore, you cannot make any claims. If you do claim or complain about this, your experience in that organization will be unpleasant, and you will not succeed in your case.

Thank you.

You have genuine reasons to grumble, but you would appreciate that our jobs are subject to transfers. It would have been clearly mentioned in your employment/appointment letter that your services can be transferred from one branch to another, one factory to another, or from factory/branch to HO and vice versa. Every factory/branch office, etc., has a different set of rules/benefits based upon local conditions.

Just to elaborate further, I would like to tell you that I have worked with some of the best-known multi-locational MNCs known for their best HR practices, and every plant had its own leave/holidays. In South India, they would have different holidays as per their local cultural and religious beliefs and customs. We also used to have many inter-plant transfers and people transferred from HO to plant and vice versa. Naturally, the transferred employee will observe the service conditions as per his current location.

There cannot be two sets of rules in a plant for two different sets of employees (barring blue-collar employees as they are guided by the laws enacted by the government or by Long Term Settlements which determine their service conditions), where one set of employees (transferred from HO) is availing leave/holidays as per HO guidelines and another set of employees availing leave as per the factory's guidelines. This type of double standards will create a lot of ambiguity and a lot of dissatisfaction among other employees. There has to be uniformity of standards in the setup.

Most importantly, the Labour Commissioner will not be able to help you in this matter; on the contrary, you will earn the wrath of your management as you will lose the goodwill, something which you have earned in the period spanning almost a couple of decades.

I feel you must accept it as a part of the game where sometimes you win, sometimes you lose. Good luck and enjoy.

Regards,
Rakesh

It seems you have already discussed this issue with somebody in the office who has given you the options. You have already worked in the office for 5 years now. Therefore, it is clear that they have a sort of system for all office people and expect you to follow the same. It would not be prudent to spoil your relations with a company where you are almost serving for 16 years for such an issue.

You have stated that you have been told so and so. By the way, is there anything given in writing to you that you are entitled to, as per your sayings? If you have been given it in writing, then you can rightfully claim your entitlement. Otherwise, it is futile to sit and cry. A gentleman must understand that what cannot be cured should be endured. Do not act in haste and invite more troubles, making your work life more miserable.

All the best...

Regards

I appreciate each and every member's replies to me. The fact is I have honestly served the company for 16 years, and frankly speaking, one or two days truly don't matter much to me. Likewise, I have forgiven lots of injustices done towards me; else, it would have been difficult to survive for 16 years. I am sure you all will agree with that.

Regarding My Appointment Letter

It is just half a page with no transfer or notice pay clause, which was signed by our past Director. The truth is there are people down the line who are deliberately imposing their rules on me since they don't enjoy 2nd and 4th Saturdays as I do, and subtly I wanted to take back my rights.

I shall forgo this leave too but just wanted to know from our dear members their opinion, whether I can fight back for my rights? Thank you very much; I respect each and every member's response.

Regards,
Shubhs

Thank you for responding to others' opinions so gracefully. It was nice to see that you accept the present situation and are not unduly bitter about it. One has to make certain compromises and forego certain benefits during the course of a long career in return for other benefits, experience, or career growth. The fact is, elsewhere, people are governed by the rules applicable at the place of their postings (unless otherwise expressly specified - such as in the case of deputation). It's painful to forego any existing benefit for any employee, but then one must appreciate that you have enjoyed a few benefits which others have not enjoyed, by virtue of being transferred from CO.

It would be desirable if such issues are not raised at the Plant site, and if you feel it's high time, then you may work towards getting transferred back to CO.

Warm regards.

I have read your problem in detail and have gone through a number of responses eliciting their views. Here, there are two things that matter the most:

1. You have been transferred to the Plant Site from HO. There are certain rules that govern the plant site, and even if you enjoy certain benefits that plant associates do not, they may create trouble for you and pressure you to work in accordance with their rules out of personal jealousy. This is natural. Here, you have to navigate diplomatically, and your patience will be tested. First, build a rapport with your immediate boss who sits at the plant and to whom you report. Develop a deep level of camaraderie with him so that he can provide you with some flexibility. These are unwritten rules. Remember, the boss is not your enemy. He is working in accordance with the crowd, but he may find a way to assist you if you have a good relationship with him. A good relationship does not mean resorting to illicit means.

I hope this helps. Let me know if you need further assistance.

Best regards

The ball game played in the HO and plant site is different by virtue of their job nature. Where the job demands certain ways and rules, they must be respected. The management may have understood this and framed rules accordingly. In case you are set on availing the benefits of HO, it is wise to get transferred back to HO rather than fighting at the plant site. By the way, if the top brass comes to know about your intentions (of availing benefits, in this case, a few extra days leave), they may not view it in the right perspective, and this may prove to be a black mark on your career.

It's better to adjust to the new environment's rules and regulations rather than complaining, which can only ruin your peace of mind and potentially your career too. Remember, "When in Rome, do as the Romans do."

Regards,