What rights do you have when taking statutory holiday hours in 2021?

Questioner

For quite some time now I have been trying to take a week's vacation from my work at the company where I work. The situation is as follows: At the beginning of this year, I received a message from our HR department that I still had to take more than 100 hours of statutory vacation hours from 2021 before July 1. If this does not happen, these hours will expire. In the meantime, I have tried to make arrangements with the management of my department to be able to take these vacation hours. Not only because I don't want to lose these hours, but also because I believe I have a right to them. The last holiday I could take was in March 2021. Due to a major staff shortage, no further holidays could be granted that year. I understand this situation and have been loyal to the company. However, other people within the organization were able to take their holidays at set times. However, I get nothing in return, it is not possible to take a holiday due to staff shortages. I was told 'that I should just remember that I still have so much vacation to take, and that I shouldn't make my problem the company's problem now'. I hear through the grapevine that other people within the company can take a holiday... This came as a bit of a shock to me considering the loyalty I have shown lately. In the meantime, I have also submitted a number of requests for vacation, but these were always rejected. I am now being told that I can also have these hours paid out, but after more than a year I would also like to take a break. Even though I am aware of the problem of staff shortages in any sector, this does not seem to me to be a reason to continue refusing holidays? And that brings me to my question: can I force my employer, based on any legislation in this regard, to take my extra-statutory holiday hours after all? I know that you are entitled to 5 weeks of vacation per year, but I was demonstrably unable to take any of it in 2021. Just that one week in March that I mentioned earlier...

Lawyer

It is wise to discuss this with an employment lawyer. He or she will probably be able to help you further and possibly write to your employer for you. You are entitled to your vacation days. In certain situations it can indeed be determined that you cannot take them temporarily, but of course that cannot be the case permanently. It is also possible that these days can be paid out to you. If desired, you can contact us. Our office also has someone who specializes in employment law.