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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:
MrsAvocet · 16/01/2022 17:16

My DH gets 20 days plus bank holidays, and is currently being harrassed by his line manager because, as usual, he has too much leave outstanding for the time of year. He rarely takes it all and has never complained tgat it isn't enough.. When our children were young he needed to take more of it to cover school holidays/sickness etc but now they are in their late teens that's no longer an issue.

JacquelineCarlyle · 16/01/2022 17:17

No and have turned jobs down in the past when the offer was 20 days. Need a minimum of 25 days.

pollygartertidywife · 16/01/2022 17:18

If you work 5 days a week then the legal minimum is 5.6 weeks pro rata. However the employer can include BH in that. So 28 days less 8 bh is 20 the legal minimum.

No I wouldn't.
I get 31 days plus 11 Bh/privilege days.

BritWifeInUSA · 16/01/2022 17:18

@Ribosome

My colleagues in the US dream about 20 days holiday. They are lucky if they get 2 weeks
What company is that? I’m in the US and in our company we start with 4 weeks and it increases with service. I’m at 6 weeks now. My husband gets 3 weeks but he’s been in his job less than a year. It will increase soon.

I don’t know anyone here with less than 3 weeks.

Arseanall · 16/01/2022 17:19

Definitely not. 35 here

fluffi · 16/01/2022 17:20

No. I don't have kids and there is no way I'd only take a job with 20 days plus bank holidays.

Unless they were paying a lot more than my current job and I had the guaranteed option to buy another 10 and still overall be taking home more money.

LakieLady · 16/01/2022 17:26

@OUB1974

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.
I get 35 days pro rata, and I work the same days as you @OUB1974.

With the bank holiday adjustment, and the 3 day closure between Christmas and New Year, I have trouble using it all up, especially this year as I had 5 weeks off for a knee op.

I could "buy" another week's leave if I wanted to, too, but fuck knows what I'd do with it.

MrsAntonioConte · 16/01/2022 17:27

Definitely not! I think it shows that the company is stingey too…

Madbadandusuallysad · 16/01/2022 17:29

22.5 days including some bank holiday but honestly I feel its not enough.

gabsdot45 · 16/01/2022 17:31

It's fine for me but I work part time and have 2 full days off per week. I try to take weeks off where Monday is a bank holidays to save a day.

GlumyGloomer · 16/01/2022 17:36

My first job at 18 I had 20 days, and it was fine for me then. I used them for days off after gigs throughout the year, with probably a long weekend away at some point. One year I used 3 weeks in one go for a long haul holiday, and that year seriously dragged with no random days to look forward to. With kids holidays to try to cover it wouldn't be nearly enough.

BigRedDuck · 16/01/2022 17:50

I get 33 days + bank Holidays. It was the main reason I chose to stay with my employer than go somewhere else. 20 days is just not enough to cover school holidays etc.
My husband only gets 20 days a year and has to use 3 or 4 of them when their firm shuts down over Christmas so in reality only gets 17 days to cover a whole year, which I think is really unfair.
We just very carefully plan around bank Holidays weeks to maximise his time off as much as possible.

Who are these people that get unlimited holiday? How does it work?

WinnersDinner · 16/01/2022 17:54

@BigRedDuck

I get 33 days + bank Holidays. It was the main reason I chose to stay with my employer than go somewhere else. 20 days is just not enough to cover school holidays etc. My husband only gets 20 days a year and has to use 3 or 4 of them when their firm shuts down over Christmas so in reality only gets 17 days to cover a whole year, which I think is really unfair. We just very carefully plan around bank Holidays weeks to maximise his time off as much as possible.

Who are these people that get unlimited holiday? How does it work?

What do you mean how does it work?

It's unlimited annual leave, I take as much as I like per year

Works the same as any other annual leave, just no limit

I tend to take 50-60 days per year, although since COVID it's been less as we have travelled less

Freshprincess · 16/01/2022 18:08

It’s ok, but i work from home so I never have to have a day off for ‘waiting’ if for stuff. They also pretty flexible around family stuff, ie I mentioned I was taking a half day to take my mum to a hospital appointment and I had that added back to my allowance.

Classicblunder · 16/01/2022 18:12

I have 30 days but most years have only used 22 or so (end up being paid for it). 20 would be tight but I am honestly not that bothered about covering the school holidays - I am more than happy to do a few weeks in holiday clubs.

Kitkat151 · 16/01/2022 18:20

I get 33 plus bank holidays and struggle on that ( I usually buy an extra week)

catgirl1976 · 16/01/2022 18:22

I get 35 plus bank holidays and another 1.5 gifted at Christmas and I buy another 5. I know I’m incredibly lucky but I hate my job and am looking for another one and I just don’t know how I’d manage on 20 / 25 or something like that. It’s hard with children

elp30 · 16/01/2022 18:26

@BritWifeInUSA

Many, many companies in the US only have 10 days holiday a year, before national and/or state holidays.

I have always worked for private companies all over Texas, New Mexico and Georgia where 10 days was the norm and 15 days were granted after three or five years.

My niece works for the government so her holiday entitlement is higher.

You having a minimum of 20 is more unusual, for a private company.

GertrudePerkinsPaperyThing · 16/01/2022 18:29

Would be no where near enough

I have 30 days, plus bank hols and one extra fixed day. Still not enough! I’m a single parent though and need it for school hols!

lap90 · 16/01/2022 18:33

@WinnersDinner

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
How many days to you actually take though? I've read that those with 'unlimited' PTO end up taking less days off than average?
WinnersDinner · 16/01/2022 18:40

@lap90

I typically take 50-60 days annual leave per year

sosickofthisshit · 16/01/2022 18:42

God no. I'd never take a job with such a small leave entitlement. I get 32 days plus bank holidays and even that isn't enough 🤣

GraceJonesBiggestFan · 16/01/2022 18:48

No. I’ve recently started a job (apprenticeship so has to be full time). Really struggling after just a few months to juggle childcare and have no idea what I’ll do in the summer holidays.

Cuddlemequick · 16/01/2022 18:51

I used to get 18 plus bank holidays - and the bit between Christmas and New year had to come out of our 18! That was a well reputed charity.

WoodenReindeer · 16/01/2022 18:54

I dont get how unlimited leave works either. Couldn't you end up working just 2 days a week on full pay, or have a week off every month? I'd love unlimited time off!