Untaken Holiday

Taking regular time off is essential for your wellbeing and productivity. To ensure you make the most of your holiday entitlement, it’s important to understand the rules around annual leave.

1. Holiday Year:

   • The company’s holiday year runs from April 1st to March 31st each year.
   • Employees must use their allocated annual leave entitlement within this timeframe.
     
     

2. Untaken Holiday Policy:

   • If you do not use your full holiday entitlement by March 31st, any remaining days will not be carried over to the next holiday year.
     
     
   • Untaken holiday allowance will be lost, so it is your responsibility to plan and use your holiday before the deadline.
     
     
   • If you leave it too late and try and book in Feb or even March it maybe declined as it is first come serve basis and we may have too many people on holiday already. We will stop taking requests 1st Feb of each year.
     
     

3. Exceptions to the Rule:

   • In exceptional circumstances, such as long-term illness or significant operational demands, the company may allow unused holiday to be carried over.
     
     
   • This requires prior approval from HR or management and is not guaranteed.

Why It’s Important to Take Your Holiday

Taking regular holidays is more than just a right – it’s crucial for maintaining a healthy work-life balance. Benefits of using your holiday allowance include:

• Physical and Mental Wellbeing: Time off allows you to recharge, preventing burnout and reducing stress.
  
  
• Increased Productivity: A rested mind is more creative, focused, and efficient.
  
  
• Compliance with Policy: Avoiding last-minute panic to book leave ensures smoother operations for you and your team.
  
  
• Fairness Across Teams: Scheduling holidays in advance helps balance workloads and ensures no one is left short-staffed.

How to Manage Your Holiday Allowance

Taking control of your holiday planning is key to avoiding the loss of your entitlement. Follow these steps:

1. Check Your Entitlement:

   • Review your employment contract or speak to operations team to confirm the total number of holiday days you’re entitled to each year.
     
     
   • Keep track of how many days you’ve taken and how many remain.
     
     

2. Plan Your Holiday Early:

   • It’s advisable to book holidays as early as possible, especially for busy periods like summer, Christmas, or other peak times.
     
     
   • Submitting early requests ensures you have the best chance of approval and reduces the risk of missing out.
     
     

3. Use the Company Holiday System:

   • If your company has an online holiday management platform, log in regularly to track your remaining allowance.
     
     
   • Use the system to submit requests and check their status.
     
     
   • Do not receptively chase the team for updates. We will get back to you but there maybe operation issues like trying to cover the site, we need to work this out before approving it
     
     

4. Spread Your Leave Across the Year:

   • Avoid waiting until the last minute by planning breaks throughout the year.
     
     
   • This ensures you can take time off when you need it most and avoids a bottleneck of holiday requests in March.
     
     

5. Communicate with operations:

   • Regularly discuss your holiday plans with operations team to align with team schedules.
     
     
   • If your request conflicts with team availability, work together to find a suitable alternative.

What Happens If You Don’t Use Your Holiday?

If you fail to take your full entitlement by March 31st, any unused holiday will be forfeited unless:

• You have a valid reason, such as long-term illness or exceptional circumstances, and HR has approved a carryover.
  
  
• Management has specifically asked you to defer your leave for business reasons.
  
  

In either case, carryover is not automatic and must be approved in advance.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What happens if I forget to book my holiday?

• Unfortunately, any untaken holiday will be lost after March 31st. It’s important to plan and use your leave in good time to avoid disappointment.
  
  

2. Can I carry over my unused holiday?

• As a general rule, carryover is not permitted. Exceptions may apply in extraordinary circumstances, but this requires prior approval from HR. We stop taking requests on the 1st of Feb
  
  

3. What if my holiday request is denied?

• Speak with operations about alternative dates. Submitting requests early reduces the chance of rejection.
  
  

4. What if I’m unable to take leave due to illness?

• If you’ve been unable to use your entitlement due to long-term sickness, you may be allowed to carry over some days. Supporting documentation, such as a medical certificate, may be required.
  
  

5. Can I be paid for unused holiday?

• The company does not provide payment for unused holiday unless you are leaving your role. Upon termination of employment, unused holiday entitlement will be included in your final pay.

How to Avoid Losing Holiday

1. Set Reminders:

   • Use your work calendar, phone, or email alerts to remind yourself of your remaining holiday allowance and the 1st Feb deadline.
     
     

2. Schedule Check-Ins:

   • Periodically review your holiday plans with HR or Operations.
     
     

3. Use a Holiday Planner:

   • Create a personal holiday planner to visualise when and how you’ll use your allowance throughout the year.
     
     

4. Take Action Early:

   • Don’t wait until March to book your leave. Popular dates may already be taken, leaving you with limited options.

Key Takeaways

1. Plan your holidays throughout the year to make the most of your entitlement.
2. Don’t leave holiday booking until the last minute – popular times may already be booked.
3. Speak with your manager or HR if you have any questions about your entitlement or challenges in taking leave.
4. Remember: Untaken holiday cannot be carried over and will be lost after March 31st, so take action now!

By proactively managing your leave, you’ll avoid losing out and ensure you get the rest and relaxation you deserve.