On 27 March, Business Secretary Alok Sharma announced that workers who have not taken all of their statutory annual leave entitlement due to COVID-19 will now be able to carry it over into the next 2 leave years.

Currently, almost all workers are entitled to 28 days holiday including bank holidays each year. However, most of this entitlement cannot be carried between leave years, meaning workers lose their holiday if they do not take it. There is also an obligation on employers to ensure their workers take their statutory entitlement in any one year – failure to do so could result in a financial penalty.

The new regulations will allow up to 4 weeks of unused leave to be carried into the next 2 leave years.

This aim of this change is to ease the requirements on business to ensure that workers take statutory amount of annual leave in any one year. It will also mean that staff can continue working in the national effort against the coronavirus without losing out on annual leave entitlement.

The changes will amend the Working Time Regulations, which apply to almost all workers, including agency workers, those who work irregular hours, and workers on zero-hours contracts.

The changes will also ensure all employers affected by COVID-19 have the flexibility to allow workers to carry over leave at a time when granting annual leave could leave them short-staffed in some of Britain’s key industries, such as food and healthcare.

Key Point:

• Workers who have not taken all of their statutory annual leave entitlement due to COVID-19 will now be able to carry it over into the next 2 leave years

If you require further clarification on this new regulations, view our HR and payroll services or call us on 01440 821991 or email enquiries@accountability-plus.co.uk

Link to Holiday entitlement rights – Gov.uk

Link to statement