This page includes a number of frequently asked questions and answers (FAQS) regarding the additional company days that everyone will be receiving on 29, 30 and 31 December 2021. Please click on the blue headers to expand the relevant section to your location:
How do I know if I’m involved in business-critical activities and will have to work 29, 30 and/or 31 December 2021?
Your line manager will work with their LT member to identify roles that are absolutely essential for a smooth running of the business from 29 to 31 December 2021.
Once these roles have been identified, your line manager will speak to you and agree your alternative leave dates, to be taken between 11 December 2021 and 8 January 2022.
I’ve been identified as being involved in business-critical activities so must work 29, 30 and/or 31 December 2021; what does that mean for me?
You’re welcome to take your company days at any time between 11 December 2021 and 8 January 2022, as agreed with your line manager (with LT member approval).
I don’t celebrate Christmas/don’t want to take leave 29, 30 and/or 31 December. Can I take the company days at a different time?
It’s been an incredibly busy year for all colleagues, so we’re encouraging everyone to take these days as leave. With most of us offline at the same time, we can all take some real rest and recharge before 2022. Unless you’ve been identified as needing to work on 29, 30 and/or 31 December due to business-critical activities (as agreed by your line manager) you need to take these company days on 29, 30 and 31 December.
My adjusted working pattern/part time hours mean I won’t be working on 29, 30 and/or 31 December 2021. Can I take the company days at a different time?
If you work part-time, the company days will be pro-rated to align with your working pattern.
The company days are to encourage everyone to take leave at the same time. As you’re already on leave because of your adjusted working pattern/part time hours, you won’t be able to take the company days at a different time and they won’t be reimbursed. You’ll still benefit from everyone being offline at the same time by having the opportunity to truly switch off from work and take some real rest and recharge days before 2022.
I recently joined Corporate Shipbuilding; do I get the company days?
Yes. All Corporate Shipbuilding colleagues, regardless of join date, can enjoy the company days on 29, 30 and 31 December 2021.
I am a contractor; do I get the company days?
No. The company days on 29, 30 and 31 December 2021 are an additional benefit for those employed by Corporate Shipbuilding.
I am on a fixed term contract that finishes before 29 December 2021; do I get the company days?
No. The company days are to be taken 29, 30 and 31 December so you must be employed during this period to enjoy this benefit.
I’m on long term sick; do I get the company days?
We’ll add the equivalent of the days you would have normally worked during the period of 29 – 31 December (up to a maximum of three days) to your record as additional leave. You’ll be expected to take this leave as soon as possible on your return to work. The additional leave will expire at the end of 2022.
I’m on Maternity/Paternity leave, do I get the company days?
We’ll add the equivalent of the days you would have normally worked during the period of 29 – 31 December (up to a maximum of three days) to your record as additional leave. You’ll be expected to take this leave as soon as possible on your return to work. The additional leave will expire at the end of 2022.
What if I resign before 29, 30 or 31 December 2021?
The company days are to be taken 29, 30 and 31 December so you must be employed during this period to enjoy this benefit; it doesn’t form part of your annual leave balance. If you resign you’ll be paid for any accrued annual leave not taken up to your last day with the company – the company days won’t be included.
As the company days replace any leave/TOIL already booked for 29, 30 and/or 31 December, will my remaining leave/TOIL balance increase?
Yes. If you already have 29, 30 and/or 31 December booked as annual leave, the hours will be credited back to you. We encourage you to take this time as leave in 2021.
Any TOIL balance must be used by the end of 2021. After this date it will be lost and removed from myHR portal.
I already have leave or TOIL booked for 29, 30 and/or 31 December 2021 in myHR portal. What happens now?
The company days will replace any leave or TOIL already booked for 29, 30 and/or 31 December (or alternative dates if you need to work because of business-critical activities).
Your leave/TOIL for 29, 30 and/or 31 December 2021 will be automatically cancelled from myHR portal and your leave/TOIL allowance will increase by the number of cancelled hours.
Please note, the company days won’t be added into myHR portal; time off is automatically granted. If you’re working on 29, 30 and/or 31 December, alternative time off can be taken 11 December 2021 to 8 January 2022. Please arrange this informally with your manager as it can’t be logged via myHR portal.
I don’t have leave booked for 29, 30 or 31 December. Do I need to book the company days in myHR portal?
No. There’s no need to book company days as leave in myHR portal, simply enjoy your time off. If you need to work on 29, 30 and/or 31 December 2021 because of business-critical activities, please agree your alternative company days with your line manager and make colleagues aware of your absence but do not record in myHR portal. Alternative company days have to be taken any time between 11 December 2021 and 8 January 2022.
What if I’m ill on 29, 30 and/or 31 December 2021?
Please report your sickness to your line manager as you would normally and in line with the sickness policy. Your leave will be cancelled and sick leave added to your record. Any lost days (up to a maximum of what you would have normally worked during the period of 29 – 31 December 2021) will be added to your record as additional leave. This will carry over to 2022 as long as you remain within the permitted carry over limit which has been extended to eight days for unused leave from 2021, or nine/ten days with LT member approval (or equivalent hours for part-time colleagues). All carry over leave from 2021 will be uploaded to myHR portal by 15 January and must be used by the end of 2022.
I’m on ERO rotation or on-call during the period of 29 – 31 December 2021. What does this mean for me?
Normal rules apply for ERO or on-call commitments. However, if a high level of activity is experienced whilst on call 29, 30 and/or 31 December 2021, please discuss with your line manager the option of taking time back on an alternative date, in line with colleagues that need to work because of operational requirements.
The holiday carryover policy states I can only carry over up to five days, or one working-week equivalent for part-time colleagues, to the following year. The hours credited back to me will increase my leave allowance and take me over this limit. Am I going to lose my leave?
If you already had 29, 30 and/or 31 December booked as annual leave, the hours will be credited back to you. We encourage you to take this time as leave in 2021.
Recognising this may not be possible, we’re extending the 2021 holiday carryover allowance from five days to eight days, or equivalent for part-time colleagues. No approval is needed to carry over this new allowance, it will happen automatically in myHR portal. For nine/ten days carryover, or equivalent for part-time colleagues, you still need LT member approval.
Any unused 2021 leave over the ten-day allowance, or equivalent for part-time colleagues, will be lost and removed from myHR portal. All carryover leave from 2021 will be uploaded to myHR portal by 15 January and must be used by the end of 2022.
I was planning to seek approval from my LT member to carry over up to ten days, or equivalent for part-time colleagues, into 2022. As the company days replace any leave already booked for 29, 30 and/or 31 December, this will increase my leave allowance and take me over the approval limit. Am I going to lose the leave?
If the reimbursement of leave (as a result of the company days), takes your carryover allowance above ten days, or equivalent for part-time colleagues, you’ll need to use these extra days before the end of 2021. Any unused 2021 leave over the ten-day allowance, or equivalent for part-time colleagues, will be lost and removed from myHR portal. All carryover leave from 2021 will be uploaded to myHR portal by 15 January and must be used by the end of 2022.
I’ve been on Furlough in 2020/2021 and have more than ten days or equivalent for part-time colleagues, to carry over to 2022.
If you were on Furlough as an outcome of the collective consultation, you’re able to carry over unlimited leave to 2022. All carryover leave from 2021 will be uploaded to myHR portal by 15 January and must be used by the end of 2022.
I want to take part in holiday trading for 2022; will I be able to?
As a result of the company days announcement, the holiday trading window has been moved to April – December 2022. If you carry over more than eight days (five standard + three company days), you’re only able to buy holiday (up to five days), you’re not able to sell holiday. More information will be shared during Quarter 1 (December 2021 – February 2022).
I don’t have leave booked for 29, 30 or 31 December. Do I need to book the company days in Mepco?
No. There’s no need to book company days as leave in the Mepco System, these days will be automatically recorded on your behalf. Simply enjoy your time off. If you need to work on 29, 30 and/or 31 December 2021 because of business-critical activities, please agree your alternative company days with your line manager and make colleagues aware of your absence but do not record in the Mepco System. Alternative company days have to be taken any time between 11 December 2021 and 8 January 2022.
Will I be entitled to holiday bonus for these additional 3 days of leave?
These extra days of leave are an additional benefit to employees from the company and therefore are not eligible for holiday bonus payments.
What if I’m ill on 29, 30 and/or 31 December 2021?
Please report your sickness to your line manager as you would normally and in line with the sickness policy. Your leave will be cancelled, and sick leave added to your record. Any lost days (up to a maximum of what you would have normally worked during the period of 29 – 31 December 2021) will be added to your record as additional leave.
Are the additional leave days given on top of my CBA half day on 31 December that I am entitled to?
The additional leave on 29, 30 and 31 December is inclusive of the CBA half day holiday on 31 December.
I’ve been identified as being involved in business-critical activities so must work 29, 30 and/or 31 December 2021; what does that mean for me?
You’re welcome to take your company days at any time between 11 December 2021 and 8 January 2022, no later than 28 February 2022 for Monfalcone and 30 April 2022 for Mariotti as agreed with your line manager (with LT member approval).
I don’t have leave booked for 29, 30 or 31 December. Do I need to book the company days in Costa Planet?
No. There’s no need to book company days as leave in Costa Planet, simply enjoy your time off. If you need to work on 29, 30 and/or 31 December 2021 because of business-critical activities, please agree your alternative company days with your line manager and make colleagues aware of your absence but do not record in Costa Planet. Alternative company days have to be taken any time between 11 December 2021 and 8 January 2022, no later than 28 February 2022 for Monfalcone and 30 April 2022 for Mariotti (TBC) as agreed with your line manager (with LT member approval).
I was going to use some of my leave over the Christmas period, what impact will this have on the carryover?
We encourage everyone to take the time off to ensure you are well rested and utilise your leave. If you have additional leave leftover due to business needs, this will be carried over into 2022, your manager will speak to you to make a plan of how this carried over leave will be used.
What if I’m ill on 29, 30 and/or 31 December 2021?
Please report your sickness to your line manager as you would normally and in line with the sickness policy. Your leave will be cancelled, and sick leave added to your record. Any lost days (up to a maximum of what you would have normally worked during the period of 29 – 31 December 2021) will be added to your record as additional leave. This will carry over to 2022 and you and your manager must plan when this leave will be used in 2022.
**NEW**Are the additional leave days given on top of my half day on 31 December that I am entitled to?
The additional leave on 29, 30 and 31 December is inclusive of the half day holiday on 31 December.
I already have leave or TOIL booked for 29, 30 and/or 31 December 2021. What happens now?
The company days will replace any leave or TOIL already booked for 29, 30 and/or 31 December (or alternative dates if you need to work because of business-critical activities).
Your leave/TOIL for 29, 30 and/or 31 December 2021 has been automatically cancelled from and your leave/TOIL allowance has increased by the number of cancelled hours.
I don’t have leave booked for 29, 30 or 31 December. Do I need to book the company days via my line manager?
No. There’s no need to book company days as leave, simply enjoy your time off. If you need to work on 29, 30 and/or 31 December 2021 because of business-critical activities, please agree your alternative company days with your line manager and make colleagues aware of your absence. Alternative company days must be taken any time between 11 December 2021 and 8 January 2022.
I was going to use some of my leave over the Christmas period, what impact will this have on the carryover?
We encourage you to take a well-deserved break from work and use your leave during the annual leave period. Recognising this may not be possible annual holiday can be carried over to 2022 and needs to be used no later than 31 March 2022 in line with policy.
What if I’m ill on 29, 30 and/or 31 December 2021?
Please report your sickness to your line manager as you would normally and in line with the sickness policy. Your leave will be cancelled, and sick leave added to your record. Any lost days (up to a maximum of what you would have normally worked during the period of 29 – 31 December 2021) will be added to your record as additional leave. This will carry over to 2022 and you and your manager must plan when this leave will be used, this must be no later than 31 March 2022.
I already have leave or TOIL booked for 29, 30 and/or 31 December 2021. What happens now?
The company days will replace any leave or TOIL already booked for 29, 30 and/or 31 December (or alternative dates if you need to work because of business-critical activities).
Your leave/TOIL for 29, 30 and/or 31 December 2021 will be automatically cancelled and your leave/TOIL allowance will be increased by the number of cancelled hours.
I don’t have leave booked for 29, 30 or 31 December. Do I need to book the company days via my line manager?
No. There’s no need to book company days as leave, simply enjoy your time off. If you need to work on 29, 30 and/or 31 December 2021 because of business-critical activities, please agree your alternative company days with your line manager and make colleagues aware of your absence. Alternative company days must be taken any time between 11 December 2021 and 8 January 2022.
I was going to use some of my leave over the Christmas period, what impact will this have on what I am permitted to carryover?
If you already had 29, 30 and/or 31 December booked as annual leave, the hours will be credited back to you. We encourage you to take this time as leave in 2021.
Recognising this may not be possible, we’re extending the 2021 holiday carryover allowance from five days to eight days, or equivalent for part-time colleagues. This needs to be used no later than 31 March 2022 in line with policy.
What if I’m ill on 29, 30 and/or 31 December 2021?
Please report your sickness to your line manager as you would normally and in line with the sickness policy. Your leave will be cancelled, and sick leave added to your record. Any lost days (up to a maximum of what you would have normally worked during the period of 29 – 31 December 2021) will be added to your record as additional leave. This will carry over to 2022 and you and your manager must plan when this leave will be used, this must be no later than 31 March 2022.
I already have leave or TOIL booked for 29, 30 and/or 31 December 2021. What happens now?
The company days will replace any leave or TOIL already booked for 29, 30 and/or 31 December (or alternative dates if you need to work because of business-critical activities).
Your leave/TOIL for 29, 30 and/or 31 December 2021 will be automatically cancelled from Phocus and your leave/TOIL allowance will be increased by the number of cancelled hours.
I don’t have leave booked for 29, 30 or 31 December. Do I need to book the company days via my line manager?
No. There’s no need to book company days as leave, simply enjoy your time off. If you need to work on 29, 30 and/or 31 December 2021 because of business-critical activities, please agree your alternative company days with your line manager and make colleagues aware of your absence. Alternative company days must be taken any time between 11 December 2021 and 8 January 2022.
I was going to use some of my leave over the Christmas period, what impact will this have on the carryover?
If you already had 29, 30 and/or 31 December booked as annual leave, the hours will be credited back to you. We encourage you to take this time as leave in 2021.
Recognising this may not be possible, we’re extending the 2021 holiday carryover allowance from five days to eight days, or equivalent for part-time colleagues. This needs to be used no later than 30 June 2022 in line with policy.
What if I’m ill on 29, 30 and/or 31 December 2021?
Please report your sickness to your line manager as you would normally and in line with the sickness policy. Your leave will be cancelled, and sick leave added to your record. Any lost days (up to a maximum of what you would have normally worked during the period of 29 – 31 December 2021) will be added to your record as additional leave. This will carry over to 2022 and you and your manager must plan when this leave will be used, no later than 30 June 2022.
If you have a question which isn’t covered above, then please contact your LT member.