Changes to annual leave entitlement

Employees, who cannot take their full annual leave entitlement as a result of COVID-19, will be able carry it over in to the next two leave years.

As part of the UK Government’s commitment to supporting the British public during this time of national emergency, they have announced changes to the standard holiday entitlement of employees.

Most full-time employees are entitled to 28 days holiday (including bank holidays) each year. In most cases, employees will lose any untaken holiday.

However, the government changes mean that where it is ‘not reasonably practical’ for an employee to take their annual leave due to COVID-19, they will be allowed to take them in the following two years.

Additionally, these new regulations stipulate that an employer is required to give a ‘good reason’ to not allow a worker to take the carried over annual leave on particular days.