New government regulations will allow annual leave to be carried over into the next two years, so that workers don't lose their annual leave entitlements, and gives more flexibility to businesses at a time when it is most needed.
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 change in government regulations means up to 4 weeks of unused leave can be carried over into the next two years, easing the requirements on business to ensure workers take their statutory amount of annual leave in a any one year. This will mean staff can continue working in the national effort against the coronavirus without losing out on annual leave entitlement.