Annual leave is an important part of an individual’s terms and conditions. It is a contractual right to take and be paid for leave. As well as being a contractual obligation, it is also an important consideration in supporting the health, wellbeing and motivation of individuals by ensuring they take regular breaks.

While employees are responsible for deciding when they want to take annual leave and  planning for this, it is down to people professionals to ensure that there are clear policies and procedures for managing annual leave. Clear policies and procedures will support managers to fairly and consistently manage requests and provide individuals with a clear understanding of their entitlement, expectations and policies and procedures for booking and taking leave. 

This guide offers advice on developing policies, processes and guiding principles for fair management of annual leave.

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Managers play a key role in managing annual leave. Share this guide on managing holidays to support managers

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