The Working Time (Amendment) Regulations 2007
increased workers’ holiday entitlement in England, Wales and
Scotland, from 4 weeks to 4.8 weeks from 1 October 2007, and 5.6
weeks from 1 April 2009. All of these entitlements are inclusive of
bank holidays. How workers accrue this extra leave depends on when
their leave year starts.
For example a worker whose holiday entitlement runs from April to
April is entitled to:
4.4 weeks in the
leave year April 2007-March 2008 (ie (5/12 X 4 weeks) + (7/12 X 4.8
weeks));
4.8 weeks in the
leave year April 2008-March 2009 (ie 12/12 X 4.8
weeks);
5.6 weeks in the
leave year April 2009-March 2010 (ie 12/12 X 5.6 weeks)
and onwards.
To calculate the entitlement for other leave years and
working patterns go to www.businesslink.gov.uk/annualleave.
The leave entitlement is equivalent to the normal working
week, so if you work 5 days a week the entitlement is 24 days from
1 October 2007 and 28 days from 1 April 2009, and this is pro-rata
for part time workers (so someone working a 4-day week would be
entitled to 19.2 days from 1 October 2007 and 22.4 days from 1
April 2009.
A worker whose contractual entitlement is
already equal to or exceeds these new minima will not be affected,
nor will workers who already receive paid time off for bank
holidays in addition to their 4 weeks’ leave. Workers who work more
than 5 days per week will be limited to a maximum of 28 days under
the Regulations, although employers may offer more.
