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Holidays

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Original poster

What is the usual holiday entitlement (days per year)in the UK?

65 replies

Calliaussie · 09/08/2022 12:10

I'm in Australia and am wondering if it is usual to get more holiday days for UK employees than we do here?

I get 3 weeks holiday annually which I think is fairly standard for office and retail type jobs. Of course teachers are different and there would be different arrangements for other sectors too, but I'm just interested to compare with what is normal in the UK?

Asking because quite a lot of people on this board seem to go on multiple holidays each year which, even if I had the money, I wouldn't be able to do because I wouldn't have enough holiday days. Wondering if people in the UK commonly get more than 3 weeks?

OP posts:
GCAcademic · 09/08/2022 12:11

I get 6 weeks.

ChessieFL · 09/08/2022 12:13

The legal minimum in the UK is 5.6 weeks (20 days plus the 8 standard bank holidays) so everyone should have at least that much, many will have more.

AmberGer · 09/08/2022 12:13

Usually it's around 20-25 days plus bank holidays

ProbablyPossiblyPerhaps · 09/08/2022 12:14

28 days is the legal minimum in the UK. Plenty of EU countries have a higher minimum, so 28 days (whilst perfectly reasonable) isn't unusual in itself.

Original poster
Calliaussie · 09/08/2022 12:15

Omg I've just checked and I get 4 weeks. Totally forgot. 3 weeks plus the we

OP posts:
Dougieowner · 09/08/2022 12:16

6.5 Weeks + BH's.
Newer recruits into our company (private sector) don't get quite as much.

Original poster
Calliaussie · 09/08/2022 12:16

*week between xmas and new year which is mandatory shutdown

OP posts:
FuncaMunca · 09/08/2022 12:16

In the uk there's a statutory minimum number of paid holiday days per year. For full time workers I believe it's 28 days (5.6 weeks), but that can include bank holidays.

Original poster
Calliaussie · 09/08/2022 12:17

Wow six weeks plus bank holidays. That's amazing

OP posts:
DanglingMod · 09/08/2022 12:18

As above.

There is no legal entitlement to sick pay in the UK but we have a statutory minimum holiday pay of 28 days (4 weeks plus 8 Bank holidays). Many sectors will give ab extra week aftera certain amount of loyalty/years worked.

Thejugglestruggle · 09/08/2022 12:19

I think by law full time workers are entitled to 28 days paid leave. Most companies will stipulate that you take 7 (usually) of those days on bank holidays (public holidays).
But many companies particularly in the public sector offer more. I get 36 days leave plus bank holidays.

hgaj · 09/08/2022 12:19

Yes minimum 28, average probably about 33, good would be 38+. Though these all include 8 bank holidays which are fixed days and so may not suit holiday plans.

Dazedandconfused10 · 09/08/2022 12:19

Unlimited here, but as pp have said 28 days is the statutory.

ProbablyPossiblyPerhaps · 09/08/2022 12:19

Calliaussie 28 days includes bank holidays - Austria, France, Spain and Germany all have more generous legal minimum annual leave entitlement, largely due to more bank holidays.

Weepingwillows12 · 09/08/2022 12:22

I get 26 days plus bank holidays. That was pretty standard in all the companies I worked at. One was 22 days plus bh I think.

ProbablyPossiblyPerhaps · 09/08/2022 12:24

DanglingMod · 09/08/2022 12:18

As above.

There is no legal entitlement to sick pay in the UK but we have a statutory minimum holiday pay of 28 days (4 weeks plus 8 Bank holidays). Many sectors will give ab extra week aftera certain amount of loyalty/years worked.

There is statutory sick pay though (not much but better than nothing and for up to 28 weeks).

mumonthehill · 09/08/2022 12:27

25 days plus bank holidays and gift of time off between Christmas and new year. Also flexi time so can add on if I need to.

user1471464218 · 09/08/2022 12:27

I get 5wks and 2.5 days plus 8 bank hols. Every few years my annual leave entitlement increases to a max of 6 wks plus bank hol (think that's at 20 yrs service.)

chipsandpeas · 09/08/2022 12:29

i get 35 days - 32 to freely choose as xmas day, boxing day and new years day are taken off as thats the only bank holidays we are closed - also can buy up to 5 more days

gogohmm · 09/08/2022 12:30

20 days plus bank holidays (8) is the minimum. I get 25 plus Christmas Eve lust bank holidays

ItsDinah · 09/08/2022 12:47

In Australia, you are legally entitled to a minimum 4 weeks Annual Leave,and should get Public Holidays in addition to this. In UK, most people only get statutory Annual Leave. By law, workers are entitled to 5.6 weeks of Annual Leave. If you work 5 days a week that works out at 28 days. If you work 3 days a week it works out at 16 days. You don't get extra days off for Public Holidays -e.g. Christmas Day. They come off your Annual Leave Allowance. Your employer can dictate when you take your Annual Leave. Some employers give staff additional Leave days. It's quite common for additional days to be awarded for long service.

bbqhulahoop · 09/08/2022 12:54

I used to work for an Australian company but based in the UK and we got loads more holiday than they did

Cadot · 09/08/2022 12:57

Yes, and in Australia everyone gets long service leave. So after 7 years generally you will get more paid leave.

SleepNeedSleepNow · 09/08/2022 13:02

But what about your maternity and long service in Australia? I get the impression it's much better than UK?

MrsMoastyToasty · 09/08/2022 13:08

I get 30 days. DH gets 35-37 depending on how many bank holidays there are in a year (but he works in a 24/7/365 business so is often rostered to work bank holidays and gets them back in annual leave to use at other times of the year ).