Survey highlights lack of awareness of holiday rights

The Government has published new guidance on how holidays are accrued as a poll shows many, particularly those who don’t work traditional hours, may be missing out on holiday entitlement.

A survey of over 2,000 workers conducted by the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy found that many are unclear about entitlement to holiday pay.

The survey found 75% of workers believed that all workers, apart from the self-employed, are entitled to holiday pay, but atypical workers – for instance, those who work shorter or seasonal hours – are less likely to think this. Only 69% believed that all employed workers are entitled to holiday pay.

Almost all workers are legally entitled to 5.6 weeks’ paid holiday per year (known as statutory leave entitlement or annual leave). An employer can include bank holidays as part of statutory annual leave.

There was also some confusion with how soon holiday pay is accrued in a job, with 52% incorrectly thinking that you have to work at least three months to be entitled to holiday pay. Some 58% of workers thought that holiday pay is earned for every hour worked, but only 52% of atypical workers were likely to think this.

The survey also found 35% of workers incorrectly thought that only people in permanent jobs get holiday pay and half of workers thought that workers on zero hours contracts didn’t qualify for holiday pay.

The Government has issued new guidance on calculating holiday entitlement here.

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