Paid Leave Is A Legal Right, Not A Benefit

Many employers of domestic staff undoubtedly feel, from time to time, that staff holidays are inconvenient. But it doesn’t change the fact that they are a legal right.

According to the Trades Union Congress (TUC) In the UK there are 1.2 million workers who receive no annual leave at all, and 2.2 million who get less than the legal minimum holiday of five and a half weeks a year. Those missing out were “at risk of burn-out”, say the TUC.

In the UK most workers who work a five-day week are legally entitled to 28 days paid leave per year. An employer can include bank holidays as part of that statutory leave entitlement.

Some of the reasons for staff losing out on holiday entitlement include: unrealistic workloads, employers denying requests for leave, and effectively “managing out” holiday time.

The TUC have stressed that not granting leave causes stress and mental and physical ill-health, with associated effects on co-workers, friends and families.

Yes, staff holiday can be inconvenient, but they are a legal right and punitive measures are very possibly in the pipeline for employers who effectively cheat staff out of paid leave.