That's a not great way of doing leave time. We have everyone submit leave time at the same time for the upcoming year. And then decisions are made based off a number of factors, including seniority. However we make sure the same person doesn't have all the "good" days off (around holidays, spring break, etc) every year or even twice in a year. We have two support staff, the most senior person doesn't get the week around Thanksgiving and around Christmas off every year, we make her alternate. Otherwise it really sucks and you can have someone whose been there a decade but is still the low man in seniority and has never had Christmas off.

So boo bad management practice. But yay for an epic bike trip!