Annual Leave

  1. The following policy was agreed in 2016, with an amendment in November 2022 to change from 36 days’ annual leave (7.2 weeks) to 37 days (7.4 weeks) in line with local government, to be implemented from January 2023.
  2. The annual leave year runs from 1 January to 31 December.  For part-years worked, annual leave entitlement will be calculated pro rata for that year. 
  3. Employees are entitled to 7.4 weeks’ paid annual leave in each annual leave year (which includes all statutory public holidays, currently eight per year). In the case of full-time employees working a five-day week, this equates to 37 days.
  4. The employer will be closed on all public holidays (usually eight days). The employer may also decide to close on other days following consultation with employees. Such consultation shall take place as far in advance as practicable. Closure days (not usually more than four days in any one year) must be taken as annual leave if you would otherwise have been working.
  5. If you have completed four years’ service, full-time employees are entitled to an additional day of leave per year for each completed year of service up to five extra days’ leave per year. Part time workers who have completed four years’ service will be entitled to extra leave calculated on a pro rata basis. Where this results in a fraction of a day, the leave entitlement will be rounded up to the nearest half day.
  6. Employees working less than full-time hours will have a holiday entitlement which is calculated pro rata according to the number of days/hours per week, as compared to a full-time employee.
  7. Annual leave in excess of 15 consecutive working days may only be taken by special arrangement and with the approval of the Chief Executive. Timing of all annual leave is subject to the needs of the employer and must be requested in advance and agreed with your immediate line manager.
  8. Annual leave entitlement can only be carried over with the explicit agreement of the Chief Executive. This will normally be limited to one week and will be subject to agreement on when leave will be used.
  9. During your notice period you may be required to take any outstanding leave which will have accrued at the date of termination of your employment. If this is not practicable, salary will be paid in lieu of outstanding leave entitlement. Any amount owing due to annual leave which has been taken in excess of entitlement must be repaid to the employer on leaving, and will normally be deducted from your final salary.