Holidays, holiday entitlement and annual paid leave

Under the Working Time Regulations 1998, most workers are entitled to paid holidays or annual leave.

A full-time worker is entitled to holiday from their first day of employment and since 1st April 2009, the minimum statutory holiday entitlement is 5.6 weeks annually (28 days if you work a five day week), including the 8 public holidays. Pay is based on a normal week's pay.

Part-time workers are entitled to the same holidays as full-time workers but this is calculated on a pro rata basis.

Employers may choose to offer more holiday than this. Paid or unpaid holiday time beyond the legal requirements may be offered as a benefit to workers. Employers should also consider making provisions for employees from different ethnic and religious backgrounds to take time off in order to observe different holidays.

The policy on holidays should be set out in the written contract, and terms and conditions of employment. These proposals relate to England, Wales, Scotland. and Northern Ireland.