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Original poster

Unlimited annual leave

30 replies

GimmeTheHolidays · 07/04/2024 19:28

Anyone else who gets "unlimited" paid annual leave as part of your employment conditions, how does this work in reality? It's a new thing for me and I'm not sure what would be reasonable. Want to maximise the benefit without taking the piss.

OP posts:
Mrsttcno1 · 07/04/2024 19:33

My sister has this at her place of work and the result is that there’s a real general consensus of people NOT taking leave & being made to feel guilty almost if you do! Hopefully yours is different but I do think in general this is the reason companies are starting to do it. If you just set it as typical 25 days then people take their 25 days because they are entitled to, once you say it’s “unlimited” then people are more hesitant to take it as they don’t want to be the one never in, never sure how it makes them look, it means people almost have to decide what they deserve so lots then take less as a result.

WishesPromised · 07/04/2024 19:38

I've never come across this, but I'd take off a week a month...

EvenStillIWantTo · 07/04/2024 19:40

Yeah I read research which shows that people generally tend to take less annual leave when it's theoretically unlimited. Quite a cynical move by companies in that light I think!

HappiestSleeping · 07/04/2024 19:41

Make sure you have very clearly defined objectives. The main issue is that someone does not meet their objectives due to taking too much leave.

As long as they are clearly defined, achievable, and achieved, then you should be able to crack on.

That said, you can also expect to have more work piled on you if you are able to take significantly more than 20 to 30 days leave per year.

MumMumMumMumMumMumMum · 07/04/2024 19:43

High level management have it at my work place, with talk of it being rolled out ...we'll see...but I'm the whole seems to work well, in fact some in people seem to take less annual leave and have to be reminded.

kitsuneghost · 07/04/2024 19:45

I would love this. I am always worrying about running out.
In reality it is so ingrained to be off for 25-30 days, that is probably what you would take. Just means you aren't booking the last of your holiday then sat worrying in case something comes up.

LaPalmaLlama · 07/04/2024 19:48

Dh has unlimited- he probably takes 5 weeks a year but tbh will do some work pretty much every day regardless. He is paid mainly on performance so if you can ace it working one day a year they're fine with that, but it would be v unlikely.

Clariana · 07/04/2024 19:50

I have it, although if there are really important meetings I am expected to join remotely even though on leave. I just need to get the work done otherwise.

I will take 30 days in the first 6 months of this year, and probably the same in the second half.

fatandunfitandmidforties · 07/04/2024 19:52

My dh has it. he took
10 maybe 12 tops last year
So yes what the PP said about how it actually has the opposite effect

WarningOfGails · 07/04/2024 19:52

This sounds amazing! And totally opposite to what we have, which is a 5 year rota letting us know what holidays we are allotted…

Whatelsecouldibecalled · 07/04/2024 19:53

I have never heard of this! How amazing I get 20 days a year. Would love unlimited

iutiut · 07/04/2024 19:56

DH has this but he never takes more than 5 weeks. He would probabaly feel guilty if he takes more because he is paid very well and the stress level is relatively with lots of flexibility.

Parfortheparsnip · 07/04/2024 19:57

We have it at my work. As we have intense periods when everyone is expected to pitch in, it's generally accepted that it will mostly get taken in chunks when things are less busy. On average, people don't take the piss. It helps with staff turnover and means working parents have less worries about child illnesses etc.

CallMikeBanning · 07/04/2024 19:58

I would hate this. If you have 30 days you get 30 days. It's your right. If you have unlimited it is 'do you have enough work done to be taking more annual leave?' I would end up taking hardly any as I'd feel guilty.

RytonTarget · 07/04/2024 20:00

5 weeks seems reasonable, maybe 6.
What would the holiday allowance be in a similar role?

FreeCheck · 07/04/2024 20:00

I think this idea started with American tech companies did it not?

Itsaloadofbollocksbut · 07/04/2024 20:02

Doesn't it have to be signed off by managers? So not truly unlimited?

it’s a clever psychological trick but no more than that.

KeepingItUnderTheRadar · 07/04/2024 20:06

God I'd hate that. A generous annual leave entitlement is great but unlimited is just...grey. I'd be constantly doubting myself and would probably flit between worrying I was taking too much and being annoyed at those obviously taking the p!

Tumbleweed101 · 07/04/2024 20:08

It probably stops 'sick days' as people can take time when they feel they need it.

HunterHearstHelmsley · 07/04/2024 20:14

I don't have this personally but a couple of friends do. They've said they tend to take the same as their old leave entitlement, give or take.

justanotherlaura · 07/04/2024 20:18

I've had unlimited holidays for the last 8 years although my work have changed the name to flexible holidays because it's not truly unlimited. I tend to aim for 35 days a year but sometimes take less, there's a rumour that over 40 days a year will get a meeting to discuss if it was all needed but I've never hit 40 before. We legally have to take 28 days a year minimum and will get chased near the end of the year if we don't

Bobbybobbins · 07/04/2024 20:23

Wow I'd never heard of this and the fact that psychologically people take less is fascinating!

Original poster
GimmeTheHolidays · 07/04/2024 20:57

That's what I suspected, that most people wouldn't take considerably more than they would have otherwise been granted. I absolutely get the thing of not feeling it's a right to take leave the way I did with my previous entitlement. Hence the thread!

OP posts:
Whattodo2024 · 07/04/2024 21:01

I take 6 weeks (30 days) as my previous place was 28 days. I work long hours though so they are still getting a good deal from me

Zuzus · 07/04/2024 21:03

The senior managers and directors have this where I work.

However we have on the weekly agenda "Time off" where you have to inform your peers of time off in the next 2 weeks.

In theory as long as your work gets done, you can have as much time off as you want. I practice we all tend to have about 5-6 weeks off.