Question about holiday entitlement

[stressed2007]

Hi. I have a question about holiday entitlement. For the sake of my question let us say you are entitled to 24 days holiday a year. After a month in real terms you will have accrued 2 days holiday. Are you entitled to ask for a week off work after a month even though you have not accrued it yet on the basis you will accrue it in the coming months? Is there any law on this point or is it whatever your employer agrees. Thanks very much

I don't think you need to have accrued it, although if you left during the year and hadn't accrued the holiday you had taken, you would need to pay it back.

isn't the danger to the employer though that you leave a day after a pay day and never pay any of this shortfall back?

You can take it in advance but were you to then leave any you have taken but not yet accrued can be deducted from your final pay.

Pay is normally in arrears so the risk would be lower.

Thanks. In this case the employee has only been employed a month and if she left bang after next pay day or two then employer would be out of pocket.

I have to say if I was an employer and someone requested a 2 week holiday for example having only been at work a month I would not be happy.

You can ask. Your employer can also say no.

I think most contracts state that holiday arrangements have to be approved by management in advance.

If someone was applying for a new job and already had firm holiday commitments, I would expect them to state them clearly at interview or immediately afterwards at terms/conditions stage.

i've done this but always said at interview that the holiday is booked when asked when i can start.

my employers were happy to have me in post for three weeks and then off for two weeks - but then i'm not in the kind of job where cover is required for holidays.