Holiday entitlement in the UK: a guide for small employers

The basic entitlement

Almost all workers are entitled to 5.6 weeks’ paid holiday a year. For someone working five days a week, that’s 28 days. Statutory entitlement is capped at 28 days, even for people working six days a week.

Bank holidays

There’s no legal right to have bank holidays off as extra paid leave. Employers can include bank holidays in the 5.6 weeks, or give them on top, your contracts should say which.

Part-time workers

Part-time workers get the same 5.6 weeks, pro rata: someone working three days a week gets 5.6 × 3 = 16.8 days.

Irregular hours and part-year workers

For leave years starting on or after 1 April 2024, holiday for irregular-hours and part-year workers can be worked out as 12.07% of the hours they work in each pay period.

Keeping track

Record everyone’s allowance, what they’ve taken and what’s booked, and set a leave year. Decide who signs off requests, and make sure two people from a small team aren’t off at once.

• A clear leave year
• Each person’s allowance and carry-over
• Who approves requests
• Who’s off, and when