UK Holiday Entitlement Rules: Everything Employees Need to Know

Almost all UK workers are entitled to paid annual leave under the Working Time Regulations 1998. Here's what you need to know.

Statutory minimum entitlement

Full-time workers (5 days/week) are entitled to 28 days paid leave per year — this includes 8 bank holidays. Employers can count bank holidays towards this total, or offer them on top.

Part-time workers

Part-time workers get a pro-rata entitlement based on days worked. Someone working 3 days a week gets 3/5 × 28 = 16.8 days.

Starting mid-year

New starters accrue leave from day one but only on a pro-rata basis for the remainder of the holiday year. Most employers operate a January–December or April–March holiday year.

Carrying over leave

Unused leave can normally only be carried into the next year in limited circumstances — illness, maternity leave, or if the employer explicitly allows it.

Calculate your entitlement precisely with our holiday entitlement calculator.