Glossary

Annual Leave

Under the Holidays Act 2003 all employees are entitled to at least four weeks of paid leave after 12 months of continuous employment. The purpose of annual leave is to give employees time off from work so they can refresh and focus on other aspects of their life.

Some employers may offer more than four weeks of annual leave or pay higher than the standard base rate during annual leave. When and for how long an employee can take annual leave depends on the terms of the employment agreement, the employee’s work pattern and the expectations of the job.