I’ve worked for a charity for eight years. The new manager says we are no longer entitled to sick pay, and is talking of stopping our fortnight’s leave at Christmas. We do have contracts of employment, so where do we stand?
There are two things which go to form an employment contract: what’s written on the piece of paper, and what you actually do, in other words custom and practice. If you’ve always been entitled to paid sick leave it cannot be stopped without your agreement. Similarly with holidays. You are of course entitled to a minimum of 28 days in any case. If you don’t complain it could be taken as a sign that you have accepted the changes, so make your objections known in writing. If your entitlements are written down in your employment contract so much the better.