Information » Employment & Training » Being Employed » Holidays and Time Off
- Details of the paid and unpaid leave you are entitled to should be in your contract of employment.
Annual leave
- All workers have a statutory right to at least four weeks paid annual leave (that's 20 days paid holiday if you work five days a week).
- This is the minimum right to paid holiday, your employer may offer more than this.
- The main things you should know about holiday rights are:
- you get a minimum of four weeks
- you start building up holiday as soon as you start work
- your employer can control when you take your holiday
- you get paid your normal pay for your holiday
- when you finish a job, you get paid for any holiday you've not taken
- Your contract of employment should be quite clear about the number of days you are entitled to, when you can take them and whether or not you can carry days over into the next year.
Bank and public holidays
- You do not have a statutory right to paid leave on bank and public holidays.
- If paid leave is given on a bank or public holiday, this can count towards your four weeks minimum holiday entitlement.
- There are eight permanent bank and public holidays in Great Britain.
- If you work on a bank or public holiday, there is no automatic right to an enhanced pay rate.
- What you get paid depends on your contract of employment.
- If full-time workers get paid leave on a public holiday, part-timers who don't normally work on that day have the right to paid time off on another day, proportionate to the hours they work
- Citizens advice has information on bank and public holidays
Time off for Study or Training
- Young people aged 16 or 17 who have a job but few or no qualifications now have the right to paid time off work to study or train.
- To find out more about this visit www.direct.gov.uk
Sick leave
- Different employers have different arrangements about sick leave.
- Much depends on the type of contract you have and the amount of money you earn.
- If you need to take time off because you are sick, you should call your employer straight away or get someone else to do it for you.
- Usually if you take more than three or four days off due to sickness, off you will need to get a sick note (letter) from your doctor to explain what was wrong. If you don't tell your employer, your pay may be cut.
- If you are sick for four consecutive days or more (including weekends and public holidays) you are entitled to claim Statutory Sick Pay. However to claim you must earn more than the National Insurance contributions limit. This is the lowest amount you can earn for which you still have to pay National Insurance contributions (at present £69 per week).
- Statutory Sick Pay can continue for up to 28 weeks. If you are still unable to return to work you should contact your local Benefits Agency Office for advice.
- Many employers offer more than the amount provided by Statutory Sick Pay. In this case employers claim back the Statutory Sick Pay from the government and pay the remainder themselves.
Compassionate/Special leave
- Your employer may also allow you to take time of for compassionate leave (in the event of death, serious illness or personal circumstances). This is usually arranged on a special basis and is not included as annual leave.
Other rights to paid time off
- If you have been given notice of redundancy you are also entitled to take time off to apply for new jobs.
- You should be clear exactly how much time you are allowed. It is best to discuss this with your supervisor.
- An employer should also give time off with pay for work you do as a trade union official or union health and safety officer.
- In addition an employer can also give time off work to take part in trade union activities, do jury service, be a local councillor, school governor or Justice of the Peace. However time for these activities does not need to be paid.
Rights to leave when you are expecting a baby (maternity leave)
- If you are working and expecting a baby, there are certain rights you have by law. It doesn't matter how long you have been working with your employer or how many hours a week you work.
- You have the right to take reasonable time off for ante-natal care and 14 weeks maternity leave. This can start anytime from 6 weeks before the baby is due. At the end of your 14 weeks you can return to work in the same job.
- It is unlawful for your employer to sack you for any reason connected with your pregnancy or maternity leave.
- Industrial tribunals have also ruled that it is unlawful to discriminate against pregnant women in considering job applicants.
- If you have been with your employer for 2 continuous years you can stay away from work to be with your baby for a longer period lasting up to 40 weeks in total.
- This is as long as you return to work by the end of the 28th week after the week in which the baby was born.
- During the period while you are away from work you will receive either Statutory Maternity Pay or Maternity Allowance depending on your National Insurance contributions (read our article in the Money Section).
- You must also follow the procedures for notifying your employer about your plans for maternity leave so that you do not lose your right to return to your job after the baby is born.
- The maternity leave details above are the statutory minimum (i.e. the minimum set out in law).
- Your employer may provide a more generous package of maternity benefits under the terms of your contract.
- Citizens Advice has information on Maternity Leave
Leave for new fathers (paternity leave)
- New fathers are now entitled to eight weeks paid paternity leave if they have been with the same employer for one year or longer.
- The eight weeks must be used before the child's eighth birthday.
