Request & Cancel Leave Policy

requests or cancellations a year

Each member of staff has 16 times of request / cancellation application annually. Everything below says what spends one of them — and what does not.

2wks

notice to cancel

Please submit a cancellation at least 2 weeks ahead of the leave you are taking back. It is what gives the roster time to be arranged around it. Requesting leave has no such deadline.

1 What counts as one time

Leave requested within the same week in one request is counted as 1 time.
Every request is limited to one week, and will be counted as 1 time.

2 What counts as two times

Leave requested on a specific date and approved, then cancelled because you changed your mind, counts as 2 times. Please think seriously before requesting.

0 What is not counted

A swap between two staff with consensus is not counted.
Being asked to leave officially for overtime compensation is not counted. Mark it George (Official)
Leave to accompany your child or parents to a medical consultation is not counted, provided a medical attendance certificate is given. Mark it George (Med)

✎ How to name your application

Put your own running count in brackets after your name on every application:

George (7) your 7th request or cancellation this year

George (Official) told to take it, for overtime compensation — not counted

George (Med) accompanying family, certificate provided — not counted

George (Special) an exception George has agreed — see below

Your own count is the one on the application. The site keeps its own tally on the 2026 request count page.

★ Exceptions

Any exceptional request with a special reason, or a request that would take you past 16 times, is considered individually by George. Marked George (Special)

Departmental policy on requesting and cancelling leave. Questions about a particular case go to George.