Can My Employer Cancel My Annual Leave?

When it comes to taking holidays, the notice period you provide will often depend on the type of role you have. If you are working in the care sector for example, you are unlikely to be able to take last minute holidays, whereas, if you work in a large finance team, it is more likely that someone else will be able to pick up your workload at the last minute. With holidays, it is a good idea to give your employer as much notice as possible.

Holiday Notice Periods: What Does UK Employment Law Say? 

According the UK employment law, employees must give notice which equates to double the number of days you are taking off. However, the notice period may differ depending on your employment contract and the demands of the business. Employees are entitled to 5.6 weeks holiday per year; this would be pro rata based on your hours if you are a part time worker. You should check your contract for specific information relating to holidays, such as the dates the holidays run from and whether you can carry your holidays over to the next year.

Can My Employer Cancel My Annual Leave?

Your employer can cancel your annual leave but they must have a valid business reason to do so and they are required by law to provide notice. The notice period must be the same amount of time as the length of the holiday. For instance, if you requested 7 days off, your employer must provide 7 days notice to cancel your holiday. The holiday cannot be cancelled to allow another employee to take time off (unless it is an emergency reason.) Employers should be aware of the impact this decision could have on the employee relationship, so it is advisable to only cancel annual leave as a last resort.

Can My Employer Decide When I Take My Holidays?

Employers may determine when you can take holidays if they have business needs to cater for at certain times. For example, it may be necessary to take holidays during the Christmas period if the company is closed during that spell. In contrast, they may ask that you refrain from taking holidays during the Christmas period if this is a particularly busy period. The employer must give notice regarding annual leave. If this is the same period every year, it should be in the employment contract.

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