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Original poster

How do you use your annual leave?

46 replies

northstar19 · 06/02/2023 16:04

I've prebooked a few days for the remainder of the year and have used a couple already in January. My big one being 12 working days off in summer for my holiday.

This leaves me with about 9 days left for the remainder of the year. I always worry I'm going to run out! Or worry I'm wasting days off unless I have plans.

Do you only book time off if you have plans? Last year I feel I didn't have proper time off, as I used the odd day here and there rather than using a chunk and having a proper break.

Interested to see how others use theirs

OP posts:

blackteaplease · 07/02/2023 05:50

I book 2 weeks in summer and a week at Christmas, all the inset days and then see what else I've got avaliable to scatter across the other school holidays. DH is a teacher so he covers childcare in the holidays.

Monkeybutt1 · 07/02/2023 07:05

I have 2 weeks of in summer for our holiday the week running up to Xmas and the days over Xmas then I take a few days here and there each school holiday. I get 35 days so am super lucky.

Monkeybutt1 · 07/02/2023 07:06

I meant to add I work full time from home but do longer hours Mon-Thu so I finish at 12 on a Friday this gives me admin time

BrokenHill · 07/02/2023 07:14

All 6 weeks goes on childcare. Lone parent and son's nursery doesn't open in school holidays.

Crumpetdisappointment · 07/02/2023 07:17

i have, as usual, run out
problem with this time of year people are trying to use up leave and not giving much notice.

i take time off for my dds, who dont live at home but come home occasionally, or i go and visit them, and also a week in may/june, odd days before/after a bank holiday

Champagneforeveryone · 07/02/2023 07:30

I work a 6 on 4 off pattern, so tend to take the last two shifts of one set and the first two of the next off. This gives me 8 days off and then two 4 shift sets either side.

Several years into the job and I've started to book the time off, then book things around it. By the time lots of things come up the leave is often booked up, and one year I ended up with all the bits and bobs that were left so no actual meaningful stretch of time.

I have no young children anymore so don't generally take time off in the school holidays. That's normally a time for me to cram in the hours to afford my time off either side!

SallyWD · 07/02/2023 07:31

We have to travel a lot to see my family and in laws. I use most of my annual leave in the summer holidays and Easter then a few days here and there in the half terms. I also take the odd day off just for me - e.g. my birthday and if I fancy a day to myself. I always keep a few days for emergencies but make sure I take them just before the year ends. My boss can be awkward about carrying leave over.

BernadetteRostankowskiWolowitz · 07/02/2023 07:34

Full timer here - I take the Feb half term off, a week in summer (two if I can manage) and then a week off at Christmas, either week before or week after New year (we have enforced shut down over christmas).

Then I use up the remaining days ad hoc for if I have a weekend away or just fancy a day off while the kids are in school.

I don't have to factor in school holidays at all as their other parent works term time only.

Baconand · 07/02/2023 07:41

Whenever DD is ill sadly!

I get nearly 8 weeks leave inc Bank Hols, hardly any is for me. From Sept 24 it will all have to be in school hols. With DH we can almost cover the 14 weeks if we only have 2 weeks off together.

emmathedilemma · 07/02/2023 08:13

5 days for a weeks holiday, maybe 6 depending on departure / arrival times and days
3 days between Xmas & New Year (compulsory)
maybe another week off tagged onto one of the May bank holidays
a lot of long weekends!
I don't have kids so can be fairly flexible and I often take the Friday off to make a longer weekend with a bank holiday Monday or I'll have a Friday / Monday off to go away for the weekend or travel to family, or just catch up "life admin".

Whyisitsososohard · 07/02/2023 08:26

I don't have kids but have recently started working on an employed basis instead of freelance. Although paid holidays are nice and I know we get more than say usa. I feel really constrained by the small amount we get tbh. I know it's even more of a struggle for parents managing school holidays.

SnowAndFrostOutside · 07/02/2023 08:31

I use my annual leave on school holidays to save on childcare.

Hoppinggreen · 07/02/2023 08:37

I just use them for holidays as my work is pretty flexible anyway.
If I have any by the end of the year I just take a long break over Christmas

MaverickGooseGoose · 07/02/2023 08:43

Two or three weeks in the summer depending on where we are going, a couple of days each half term and some at Easter. Usually still manage to roll some over for emergencies.

ithoughtisawapuddycat · 07/02/2023 08:50

We've had our holiday for this year so I've booked Christmas off, booked some time around most of the bank holidays to maximise leave and a few days in December. Still got 8 more left to book which I'll leave floating. So far this gives me a week off early June and end of August plus a few short weeks.

We've no kids so never book for school holiday times.

Rockingcloggs · 07/02/2023 11:10

I'm very lucky in that I don't need to book any AL for things such as school events, plays, hospital appointments or for things in the home like workmen or carpet fitters etc. We just ask if we can be off, give the reason and that's fine. So, I only use holidays for actual holidays I have a week off next week for holiday and then two weeks off in July for another holiday and other than bank holidays all mine are gone!

sgtmajormum · 07/02/2023 15:42

I use my annual leave over the School holidays
2 days February half term
1 week Easter
1 week may half term
1 week in August and some days throughout to break up the holidays or reduce my hours
2 days October half term
3 days over Christmas
Any days left I keep for emergencies

I try and make use of the bank holidays to make my leave feel like a longer break

Reluctantadult · 07/02/2023 15:44

I plot all of mine out for the year in Jan, on an excel sheet and in my shared calendar. But i don't actually book the days off until I have booked a hol or closer to the time, in case things change. This way I'm happy I've got enough to get through the year. It's a bit of a juggle with dc !

DomesticShortHair · 07/02/2023 15:47

I just blink once or twice, then it’s over and I’m back at work.

Ylvamoon · 07/02/2023 15:49

I have 6 weeks so it's usually 1 week at Easter, 2 summer holidays 1 week for myself and the rest to cover whatever is needed during holidays, birthdays

Tisfortired · 07/02/2023 15:58

I get 29 days annual leave, I always use 3/4 at Christmas (depends if Christmas Eve is on a weekend day as I always like to be off on Christmas Eve) 10 days in the 6 week holidays, then a week at Easter usually and October half term. I’ll keep a few days back incase anything crops up.

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