thank you for your answers. i gather they are in their right to not let me take these days off, and pay them to me instead, but considering the problems i had with them over the years, i may go with danniuk, and just pull a sickie instead! i checked my contract re notice period (one month), and it states nowhere that my company reserves the right to ask an employee to work for the full notice even if they are entitled to some holidays on a pro rata basis.