Extended Holidays

Wondering if anyone can shed any light on this for me. I am currently employed with my present company since 1997. am in full time employment with them since 2001. its a small company , i would be next in seniority to the md. my problem is that the company policy is no more than 2 weeks holidays at any one time. i am hoping to travel to Australia for 4 weeks in sept 2006. i have approached my boss about taking 3 weeks holidays and i week enpaid leave in sept. i haven't got a positive reaction from him and i am wondering how should i approach him as i feel i have been hard done by.

This topic might be of interest to you - it includes pointers to your statutory rights and obligations in this regard.

Are you a parent of kids under 5? If so, you have an legal entitlement to unpaid parental leave, which by it's nature, would almost certainly involve an absence of more than 2 consecutive weeks.

Could you approach the boss with a plan for how your work will be covered during your absence? I guess his concern will revolve around setting a precedent which would apply to other staff.

no i do not have children under 5. when i initilally requested the time off i produced a plan of how my work load could be covered by other staff. (it is common that while one person is on holidays their worklaod is divided between the rest of the office). however i am in the position whereby i can really minimise the workload left for others by doing some unpaid over time before i leave. i ahve mentioned this to him also.