5 June 2007
New holiday legislation
All employees in the UK are entitled by law to four weeks paid leave every year. This entitlement now begins from the first day of employment but cannot be taken until it has been accrued (e.g. one day's holiday after thirteen days work). Part-time employees are entitled to the pro-rata equivalent. Employers whose nannies do not accompany them on holidays may like to agree with their nannies, when employment starts, that at least part of this entitlement is to be taken when they themselves are on holiday.
Currently the four weeks can include all bank holidays, but it is only bank employees who are legally entitled to bank holidays as paid leave. Legislation is changing as of October 1 and all employers will be required to give at least 4 bank holidays as paid leave. 18 months later, in April 2009 all employers will be required to give all 8 bank holidays as paid leave in addition to their four weeks annual leave. The entitlement to bank holidays will also be the pro-rata equivalent. As an example, someone who works 3 days per week from April 2009 will be entitled to 4.8 days, which would be rounded up to 5 bank holidays.