Latest news with #annualLeave
Khaleej Times
15-06-2025
- Business
- Khaleej Times
Can employer in UAE deny annual leave? Here's what the law says
Question: I am planning to take a vacation this summer, but my boss is rejecting my leave request, as others on the team have already booked the dates. However, I would like to take my leave and travel. Is this for employers who reject leave applications? Answer: It is assumed that the mainland company you are employed with is employing more than 50 employees. In the UAE, it is at the discretion of an employer to determine the annual leave dates of its employees based on operational requirements or in mutual agreement with the employees. An employer must inform an employee of their annual leave dates (start date and end date) at least one month before the annual leave commences. This is by Article 29 (4) of Federal Decree Law No. 33 of 2021 on the Regulation of Employment Relations, which states, 'The employee shall use his leave in the year of entitlement. The employer may fix the dates of leave according to the work requirements and in agreement with the employee, or rotate leaves among employees for the smooth progress of work, and shall notify the employee of the date of his leave at least (1) one month before the same.' Stay up to date with the latest news. Follow KT on WhatsApp Channels. Furthermore, an employer may not prevent an employee from availing of annual leave that has been carried over for more than two years unless the employee chooses to postpone it or receive a cash allowance instead of the annual leave, according to the HR/internal policies in place at the workplace and applicable regulations. This is by the Article 29 (8) of the UAE Employment Law, 'The employer may not prevent the employee from benefiting from his annual leave accrued for more than two years unless the employee wishes to carry it forward or receive a cash allowance for it, by the regulations in force at the establishment and the Implementing Regulation hereof.' Based on the aforementioned provisions of the UAE Employment Law, your employer may reject a leave request if it overlaps with the pre-approved leave of other employees and affects the smooth functioning of your employer. Therefore, you may discuss the matter with your employer and consider suggesting alternative dates or adjusting the dates of your vacation which are acceptable to your employer. Ashish Mehta is the founder and Managing Partner of Ashish Mehta & Associates. He is qualified to practise law in Dubai, the United Kingdom and India. Full details of his firm on: Readers may e-mail their questions to: news@ or send them to Legal View, Khaleej Times, PO Box 11243, Dubai.
Times of Oman
31-05-2025
- Business
- Times of Oman
Know Oman: Can employers deny requests to combine holidays with annual leave?
Muscat: Employees often seek to combine official holidays with their annual leave, but whether employers can approve or deny such request based on applicable laws and workplace policies. Speaking exclusively to the Times of Oman, a representative of Muhammad Ibrahim Law Firm, a leading law office in Oman, explained that, as per Article 78, 'workers are entitled to 30 days of annual leave per year'. However, the scheduling of such leave must consider the 'interest of work', a standard that gives employers discretion in approving or rejecting the timing of leave. While the law does not expressly prohibit combining holidays with annual leave, it clearly distinguishes between the two. Article 79 guarantees paid official holidays as separate entitlements, and Article 78 requires that annual leave be scheduled through mutual agreement with the employer, said Dr. Mohammed Ibrahim Al Zadjali, Chairman Mohammed Ibrahim Law Firm. Employers retain the authority to deny employee's requests to combine official holidays with annual leave, provided such decisions align with operational needs. This legal distinction implies that combining these two types of leave is not a right, unless explicitly permitted, the chairman said. Another spokesperson of the law firm added that, 'Article 81 allows employers to divide annual leave into segments and to postpone it for up to 06 months based on business needs. Employers may lawfully reject leave combinations if such requests would disrupt operations, staffing, or continuity especially in critical roles.' Article 3 reinforces the principle that employers must uphold minimum statutory rights but are not obligated to enhance terms unless mutually agreed. If employment contracts or internal policies do not permit the combining of holidays and annual leave, employers have no legal duty to approve such requests, the spokesperson said. Combining holidays with annual leave is not legally forbidden, but it is subject to employer's approval, operational demands, and the terms of employment contracts or internal policy. Employers are encouraged to maintain clear leave policies and communicate expectations transparently to avoid conflicts and ensure lawful and fair practices, the expert said. (Mohammed Ibrahim Law Firm (Mohammed Ibrahim Law Firm ([email protected]), (+968 244 87 600) was established 18 years ago and is serving clients through its offices in Muscat and Sohar, as well as operating on a request basis in other areas. It offers legal representation across a wide range of practice areas that include Labour Law, Corporate, Commercial, Contracts, Banking and Finance, International Trade, Foreign Investment, Insurance, Maritime Law, Construction and Engineering Contracts, International Arbitration, Intellectual Property and more).
Times of Oman
31-05-2025
- Business
- Times of Oman
Know Oman: Can employers deny requests to combine holidays with annual aeave?
Muscat: Employees often seek to combine official holidays with their annual leave, but whether employers can approve or deny such request based on applicable laws and workplace policies. Speaking exclusively to the Times of Oman, a representative of Muhammad Ibrahim Law Firm, a leading law office in Oman, explained that, as per Article 78, 'workers are entitled to 30 days of annual leave per year'. However, the scheduling of such leave must consider the 'interest of work', a standard that gives employers discretion in approving or rejecting the timing of leave. While the law does not expressly prohibit combining holidays with annual leave, it clearly distinguishes between the two. Article 79 guarantees paid official holidays as separate entitlements, and Article 78 requires that annual leave be scheduled through mutual agreement with the employer, said Dr. Mohammed Ibrahim Al Zadjali, Chairman Mohammed Ibrahim Law Firm. Employers retain the authority to deny employee's requests to combine official holidays with annual leave, provided such decisions align with operational needs. This legal distinction implies that combining these two types of leave is not a right, unless explicitly permitted, the chairman said. Another spokesperson of the law firm added that, 'Article 81 allows employers to divide annual leave into segments and to postpone it for up to 06 months based on business needs. Employers may lawfully reject leave combinations if such requests would disrupt operations, staffing, or continuity especially in critical roles.' Article 3 reinforces the principle that employers must uphold minimum statutory rights but are not obligated to enhance terms unless mutually agreed. If employment contracts or internal policies do not permit the combining of holidays and annual leave, employers have no legal duty to approve such requests, the spokesperson said. Combining holidays with annual leave is not legally forbidden, but it is subject to employer's approval, operational demands, and the terms of employment contracts or internal policy. Employers are encouraged to maintain clear leave policies and communicate expectations transparently to avoid conflicts and ensure lawful and fair practices, the expert said. (Mohammed Ibrahim Law Firm (Mohammed Ibrahim Law Firm ([email protected]), (+968 244 87 600) was established 18 years ago and is serving clients through its offices in Muscat and Sohar, as well as operating on a request basis in other areas. It offers legal representation across a wide range of practice areas that include Labour Law, Corporate, Commercial, Contracts, Banking and Finance, International Trade, Foreign Investment, Insurance, Maritime Law, Construction and Engineering Contracts, International Arbitration, Intellectual Property and more).
News.com.au
27-05-2025
- Business
- News.com.au
‘Wrong': Insane request from boss goes viral
A boss is going viral for the wild text message he sent a female worker on annual leave. UK workplace expert Ben Askins has found his niche online by sharing anonymous text messages submitted by workers and calling out bosses. He has racked up over 27 million views, sharing people's work sagas and giving a real glimpse into modern workplaces. Mr Askins recently shared an exchange between a boss and an employee where he claimed the boss got it very 'wrong' with his behaviour. It started out innocently enough: A boss texted a team member and asked if they could handle a presentation for a co-worker who couldn't make it to the meeting because they were at an emergency client meeting. The employee replied and explained that she couldn't come in because she had booked in annual leave and had plans with her children. 'It wasn't really a request TBH. I need you in by 11am,' the boss fired back. The worker didn't accept the demand and argued that she had been working extra hours for weeks and was entitled to leave, which had been approved in advance. The boss didn't agree and argued, 'One day isn't too much to ask. I can revoke your day off and expect you in at 11am.' 'That doesn't feel very fair,' the mum fired back, before arguing that a co-worker attending a lunch shouldn't take priority over her spending time with her children. 'Not going to lie. I decide what is fair. We will have a conversation about our commitment when you're in today. If you're not here, it is coming out of your bonus,' the boss said. Mr Askins claimed he'd never seen someone 'be more wrong in a text message' and argued that under no circumstances do you get to 'guilt people' into giving up their annual leave. He also argued that the boss had his priorities all wrong and looked horrified by the exchange. 'How are these people in management?' he asked. People online weren't impressed by the text exchange, with many sharing, and this is exactly why they don't respond to work requests outside of office hours. 'Last time I checked paying me doesn't mean owning me,' one pointed out. 'This is why you don't answer works texts outside of office hours,' another advised. 'This is tough to watch. Definitely not the kind of leadership anyone deserves,' one admitted. 'I swear some managers wish annual leave didn't exist,' one said. 'This is awful,' someone else said. 'I hope they quit that job,' another wrote.
