Buying extra annual leave

[Scarlettjade]

Work have brought in a new policy, allowing staff to buy up to 5 additional annual leave days per year.

We currently get 28 days + bank holidays.

28 days is usually plenty enough annual leave, but I’m thinking that most people would jump at the chance of getting more time off work for only a small reduction in pay (buying 5 days would result in a 2% reduction on my annual gross salary).

Just keen to hear what others would choose to do?

We can buy up to six days additional holiday - I buy the maximum every year.

We can buy a week a year. I always buy it.

I had the option to buy 5 extra days when I had 25 days leave. I took it every year. AFAIK it’s cheaper because you get tax relief (but please don’t quote me)…

We can buy up to five days a year, most people do it.

I always used to sell 5 of mine.

I always did it. You barely notice the money but notice the extra week off!

I used to buy an extra week every year when DC were at primary, to cover more of the summer holidays. No need now they're older but I really appreciated it at the time: it's a genuinely useful perk for parents.

I buy all of mine. I love it, life is for living and work ensures I can do that but the less time I’m there the better!

1 week is more or less 2% of a year, so you're taking the week unpaid. Which is fine if you want the extra leave, but it's not a particularly special deal.

NHS worker. My old trust let you buy a week’s worth of hours (37.5 hours full time and if you worked part time, whatever ‘a week’ was for you). My current trust don’t let you do it and I’m very sad cos I’d do it in a shot and it’s the first time I’ve been well off enough to afford it!

i buy 5 days additional annual leave every year

I always used to buy it when I worked where it was offered. If you didn't use holiday days, you could roll them over or get them refunded but I've never had a problem using my max holiday allowance!

Do you not have to buy it back at the same rate you're paid?

So it's effectively just unpaid leave? And therefore relatively expensive

My employer offers this too. You have to apply before the leave year starts and once approved you're committed to it because they reduce your salary for the whole year. Which also reduces your pension contribution. You can't just choose to buy an extra day during the year.

It's particularly useful for staff with children as they can buy more leave to cover school holidays.

The LA I work for allows you to buy up.to 3 weeks a year. I've only taken advantage of it once, when I bought 2 extra weeks one year and then struggled to use them. I've never done it since.

I'd rather have the money. That said, I work a 9 day fortnight so that makes a huge difference

Sort of. It decreases your tax bill if you’re a higher rate taxpayer so the cost to you isn’t as much as four weeks of after tax salary.

I buy it every year to bring down my tax bill.

How much is a life worth if five days off is 2% of an annual wage?

When I was younger and before children I'd have taken the extra money, now I'd take the time.

I think the point is that if you purchase it, you’re entitled to take it. No questions asked. It’s not something that may or may not be granted.

I wouldn’t ask for unpaid leave in the normal course of things (and never have), but when I had a job that allowed purchasing it I always bought the maximum.

I get 30 plus bank hols plus the option to buy 5 more days. I always buy the 5 days

My trust allows you to buy or sell a week. In my department there are more sellers than buyers. I have an ambition to become a buyer.

When I could buy leave I did.

My job is extremely busy and stressful. I would struggle to fit in another week’s holiday into my workload. I get 30 days plus bank holidays and don’t usually use it all as it is.

We can do this but then our targets for billable hours remain the same - so we basically have to work more hours to compensate whilst losing a week's pay.

Which leaves a bad taste.

We can buy up to an extra 10 days - I do it every year, never enough holiday for me!

We are also entitled to buy 5 extra days every year. I always buy them, it’s an no-brainer. Unless you were seriously short of money why on earth wouldn’t you?