Christmas in the Workplace: An Employers Guide
Most employees look forward to taking a well-earned break over the Christmas period. But staff holidays have to be balanced against ensuring business needs are met. Here we take a look at the considerations and rules around time off over the festive period.
The Working Time Regulations
Under the Working Time Regulations, full time employees are entitled to a minimum of 5.6 weeks of holiday in each annual leave year, if you have part-time employees or workers, their holiday is based on the amount of hours they’ve worked. At present, for those on zero hour contracts it’s currently 5.6 weeks, regardless of how much they work, although this is due to change for leave years after April 2025, so it will be then based on 12.07% accrual method. Provided the employer does not ultimately prevent an employee from taking this leave over the year it is for the employer to determine the rules regarding when leave can be taken.
Some employers will specify set periods of shutdown where leave must be taken, either in relation to all or part of their employee’s annual leave entitlement. Under the Regulations, this is perfectly permissible provided the employer gives twice the length of the leave period to be taken as notice to the employee.
Leave Requests
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