Annual leave

In the United Kingdom, annual leave refers to a period of paid time off from work that employees are entitled to take each year, as specified by employment law and contractual agreements. It is also commonly known as holiday or vacation time.

An exhaustive definition of annual leave would include:

• A minimum entitlement of 28 days per annum for full-time workers, which includes bank holidays (as per the Working Time Regulations 1998)
• The right to take this leave in one go, or to break it up into separate periods throughout the year
• Pay for this leave at the employee’s normal rate, unless otherwise agreed with their employer
• Protection from being required to work during this time, except in exceptional circumstances (such as a business emergency) and with prior agreement
• The ability to carry over any unused annual leave to the next two holiday years, if not taken due to illness or other unforeseen circumstances

It’s worth noting that some employers may offer additional paid holidays beyond the statutory minimum, and these would be specified in individual employment contracts.

AceRota is a holiday management system that helps employees plan and manage their annual leave, ensuring they don’t overbook or clash with colleagues’ time off. It also allows managers to approve or reject requests, making it easier to maintain a fair and organised rota.