{"id":1286,"date":"2022-01-07T03:50:49","date_gmt":"2022-01-07T03:50:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/uk.legalvision.com.au\/?p=1286"},"modified":"2026-03-26T23:54:14","modified_gmt":"2026-03-26T23:54:14","slug":"force-employees-annual-holidays","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/legalvision.co.uk\/employment\/force-employees-annual-holidays\/","title":{"rendered":"Can I Force My Employees to Take Annual Holidays in the UK?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

UK employers must provide staff with paid annual leave, but managing when and how employees take that leave can raise complex legal questions. Understanding your rights and obligations as an employer is essential to staying compliant and maintaining a productive workplace. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the UK, employers have a legal obligation to provide their staff with paid annual leave. Understanding the nuances of this requirement is crucial for maintaining compliance and fostering a positive work environment. While most employees eagerly use their holiday allowance, situations may arise where staff members are reluctant to take time off<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Additionally, some employers may operate shut-down periods over Christmas or industry-specific times during the year. This can create challenges for employers who must balance workplace productivity with legal obligations and employee well-being. This article explores the statutory leave entitlements<\/a> for UK employees and addresses a common question faced by many employers: Can you require your staff to take their annual holidays?<\/p>\n\n\n

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2025 Key UK Employment Law Changes Factsheet<\/div>\n
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Understand employment law differences in Australia, New Zealand, and the UK. Download our free factsheet today.<\/p>\n <\/div>\n \n\nDownload Now<\/a> <\/section>\n <\/div>\n\n\n\n\n

What is the Legal Annual Leave Entitlement?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Full-time employees have the right to a statutory leave<\/a> entitlement of 5.6 weeks or 28 days per year. You can calculate the necessary leave amount for part-time workers by multiplying the number of days they work by 5.6. For example, someone working three days per week would be entitled to 16.8 days of statutory leave per year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If an employee works more than a five-day week, there is no legal requirement to increase their annual leave<\/a> entitlement. However, some employers may provide additional annual leave beyond the statutory minimum as an employment benefit. Furthermore, it is at your discretion whether to include public holidays as part of your employee\u2019s statutory annual leave entitlement. If you elect to do this and expect staff to work on a bank holiday, you must provide them with a day off instead of that holiday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Generally, when an employee requests leave, they must give double the notice period for the number of days they want. Therefore, requesting two days of leave would require four days’ notice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What Rights Do Employees Have?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

In addition to the existence of a statutory (legal) leave entitlement, employees also have the right to<\/a>:<\/p>\n\n\n\n