Is 20 days holiday legal in UK?

20 Days Holiday in the UK: Is It Legal?

While the promise of a long holiday might sound appealing, understanding your legal rights as an employee in the UK is crucial. You might wonder, “Is 20 days holiday legal in the UK?”. The short answer is: it’s complicated.

UK law mandates a minimum of 5.6 weeks of paid annual leave for full-time employees. This often translates to 28 days, inclusive of the UK’s eight bank holidays. However, this figure represents the maximum number of days your employer can include as bank holidays within your statutory entitlement.

This means that an employer could offer 20 days of annual leave plus the eight bank holidays, fulfilling the legal minimum. However, this also means you would have less flexibility to take time off outside of the bank holidays.

Here’s what to consider:

• Contractual Entitlement: Your employment contract is key. It might offer more than the statutory minimum, specifying how many days are purely annual leave and how many are inclusive of bank holidays.
• Part-Time Workers: Calculations differ for part-time employees, usually determined proportionally to a full-time equivalent.
• Industry Standards: Some industries might offer more generous leave packages than the legal minimum.

Don’t just assume:

• Always check your employment contract for specific details about your holiday entitlement.
• If you’re unsure or your contract is unclear, consult the government’s official resources like the GOV.UK website or seek advice from ACAS (Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service) for clarification.

Ultimately, while 20 days of annual leave plus bank holidays might technically meet the legal baseline, it’s essential to be aware of your full entitlements and what this means for your personal time off throughout the year.