UK PTO Entitlement - Your Rights to Paid Leave
Understand your complete rights to paid time off in the United Kingdom. Learn how entitlement is calculated, what statutory protections exist, and how to ensure you receive your full holiday allowance.
Your Statutory Rights
Almost all workers in the UK have a legal right to 5.6 weeks of paid holiday per year from their first day of employment. This includes full-time, part-time, agency, and zero-hours contract workers.
Calculating Your Entitlement
Full-time workers working 5 days a week get 28 days. Part-time workers get a proportional amount (e.g., 3 days/week = 16.8 days). For irregular hours, use 12.07% of hours worked.
Additional Contractual Leave
Many UK employers offer more than the statutory minimum as a benefit. This additional leave is governed by your contract, not statutory law, so different rules may apply.
If Your Rights Are Breached
If your employer denies you statutory leave, you can raise a grievance, contact ACAS for advice, or take your case to an employment tribunal. Keep records of all leave requests and denials.