The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on holiday entitlements

No matter the time of year, thoughts often turn to the trips and holidays we plan to take. In the short term, COVID-19 has put a stop to that. However, although we may not be able to travel as we did before, employees are still accruing holiday, and many are wondering how the rules will play out in the current climate.

In May 2020, just as the Government extended the Job Retention Scheme to the end of October 2020, more guidance was introduced regarding holiday entitlement and pay during the coronavirus emergency. Guidance issued back in April looked at holiday in terms of those furloughed, while this guidance applied to all workers.

According to the document (Gov.uk, 2020), it is quite lawful for an employer to act to stop a worker taking time off on particular days. However, to do this, the employer must give notice equivalent to double the length of the holiday planned to be taken. Similarly, where an employer wants to cancel holiday or stop a worker from taking holiday on a particular day, they must give notice equivalent to the length of the previously scheduled holiday.