Coronavirus: Can I carry my holiday days over because of the pandemic?

How the outbreak will impact your annual holiday allowance

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Given that the coronavirus outbreak has left most Britons house-bound, and it’s uncertain when we will be permitted to travel for leisure, it’s looking like many of us will have ample amounts of annual leave to take once the restrictions are lifted.

Meanwhile, many people who had booked time off have had to cancel it due to the pandemic.

Then there are the key workers delivering key frontline services, such as NHS staff and supermarket workers, many of whom will be unable to take annual leave in the coming weeks.

Many companies have strict rules and regulations surrounding annual leave, which has prompted concerns that individuals could end up losing weeks of unused time off due to the pandemic.

Read on to find out what coronavirus means for annual leave.

How many days of annual leave am I entitled to?

Almost all workers are entitled to 28 days of statutory annual leave including bank holidays each year.

However, under normal circumstances, most of this entitlement cannot be carried between leave years, meaning workers lose their holiday days if they do not take them.

Why are people not taking annual leave?

The majority of key workers, such as supermarket staff and NHS workers, will be unable to take annual leave due to the increased demand for their services.

Meanwhile, non-key workers might be less inclined to take their annual leave given that they are unable to travel and will be forced to spend time off at home.

Will I be able to carry unused annual leave over to the next year?

On Friday, the government announced that all employees, including key workers, will be entitled to carry over unused holiday for the next two years.

The new measures are aimed at businesses under particular pressure from the impacts of Covid-19 and will allow them the flexibility to better manage their workforce.

But while the new guidelines state that anyone is able to carry their annual leave over, it is up to the employer to decide whether or not an employee’s ability or inclination to take annual leave has been impacted by coronavirus. This means that while some non-key workers will be able to carry their annual leave other, others will not.

Environment secretary George Eustice said: “From our fields to our supermarkets, we are hugely grateful to the many people working around the clock to keep the nation fed.

“At this crucial time, relaxing laws on statutory leave will help ensure key workers can continue the important work to keep supplies flowing, but without losing the crucial time off they are entitled to.”

How can I find out if I will be able to carry my annual leave over?

If you are unsure whether or not your employer will allow you to carry unused annual leave over, you should consult with your human resources department.