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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Is 20 days annual leave enough for you?

237 replies

Rainydays55 · 16/01/2022 15:53

For those if you who have 20 days annual leave plus bank hols - is that enough for you or do you find yourself needing more?

OP posts:
Imissmoominmama · 16/01/2022 15:54

It’s not- no.

Rummikub · 16/01/2022 15:55

I have 26 and it’s not enough! Don’t know how 20 days is do-able. Especially with kids.

MaizeAmaze · 16/01/2022 15:59

4 weeks? No, not enough.
That's why I've taken a massive paycut to go term time only.

foxy86 · 16/01/2022 16:00

I get 32 and I don’t think that’s enough. It’s never enough compared to how many hours and days you work. It’s deffo not enough when you have kids and have to work around school holidays and childcare etc. But it is what it is. If I want more time off I’ll have to reduce my hours or not work which is never going to happen as I like money as well.

Cstring · 16/01/2022 16:00

No, not at all. I always take the option to buy as many as I’m allowed and I like to have 30 days.

Kochicoo · 16/01/2022 16:01

It's fine for me but I also get the (on average) 3 days needed between Christmas and New Year so if I had to use holiday then, I'd want 23 days.

OUB1974 · 16/01/2022 16:02

I get 20 + 8 prorata. It's ok, but that's because I work Tues-Thurs so I dont have to use my bank hood for bank hols. It's still quite a struggle though.

4BargainBasement · 16/01/2022 16:02

Last 2 jobs, have had the option to buy some more holiday eg 5 more days

Kochicoo · 16/01/2022 16:03

And I use holiday camp childcare in half terms etc.. I mean obviously more is always nice but it's do-able without any issues for me.

PlanBea · 16/01/2022 16:03

I had 23+bank holidays in my last job and it was one of the motivating factors for leaving, that was pre kids! I wouldn't accept 20 days unless it was the perfect job, and even then it would give me a big pause for thought. I have 27 now and it will increase to 30 soon

CombatBarbie · 16/01/2022 16:10

I get 30 plus the 8 bank holidays and usually get granted an additional 6 days over Christmas and Easter, ..... I mean its generous compared to others. I don't know how we'd have coped if it was 20! Especially when the kids were younger. I would hate to have the USA version of 10 days!

LovelyMoans · 16/01/2022 16:15

No, I wouldn't take a job offering only 20 days.

I have infant school aged children. The holiday childcare options are very limited. I get 25 days plus 5 for long service, plus can buy another 5. Plus bank holidays.

This still isnt enough, so I have an arrangement where I can do overtime at one point of the year in return for an extra week of the summer school holiday.

This works well for me. I still have to work things out very carefully & swap favours to cover all the half term days but between DH and I its manageable.

BHX3000 · 16/01/2022 16:16

I’m self employed so would love 20 days of paid leave! If I plan it well I can normally take 7-8 working days off each summer and that’s about it…

WinnersDinner · 16/01/2022 16:17

I get unlimited holiday which I am forever grateful for, I struggled when in roles with just 20 days and wouldn't ever go back

qualitygirl · 16/01/2022 16:19

No that wouldn't be enough. I have 24 and I can build up an extra week and buy an extra week also. So I usually have 5.5-6 weeks and bank hols. I also use parental leave (though that is unpaid)

Forrandomposts · 16/01/2022 16:20

It would be fine for me. I get 34 plus 9 bank holidays and never use it. If I make a conscious effort I can use 20-25. But I have no kids and there was a pandemic with no where to go!

NothingIsWrong · 16/01/2022 16:20

No it wouldn't be. I currently get 30 plus bank holidays due to length of service, and it would be a serious consideration when moving jobs.

Asdf12345 · 16/01/2022 16:20

I get a good bit more than 20 in my contract but most years take ten or less.

The culture in my workplace isn’t really one where you use your leave, even though on paper the entitlement is very generous.

MondeoFan · 16/01/2022 16:25

No it isn't. For the past 5 years I've worked on a 0 hours contract. I get 4 weeks paid holiday for the hours I normally work. One of those weeks I have to take between Xmas and Year so that only leaves 3 weeks for the rest of the year! It's not enough!

What I do is book some extra days here and there which I'm allowed to do as 0 hours contract. For example I have Fridays off anyway so will quite often book a Monday off too so I get more weekends away with kids.

Last year I had about 45 days holiday.

2022success · 16/01/2022 16:29

I have 35 plus bank holidays and would still like more so YANBU.

Can you apply for a job that has more A/L?

stuntbubbles · 16/01/2022 16:29

20 is just awful. I’d take a generous holiday allowance above lots of other benefits.

TeddyTonks · 16/01/2022 16:30

No

fairylightsandwaxmelts · 16/01/2022 16:30

It wouldn't be enough for me.

I'm self-employed and take six weeks plus bank holidays.

Focus126 · 16/01/2022 16:31

No

Softpebbles · 16/01/2022 16:32

I have looked for a new job recently and when agencies have called me and say the holiday is 20 days I don’t ever proceed. I don’t think it’s enough and not something I wish to compromise on.