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Pay & time off

Holiday entitlement in the UK: the 5.6 weeks rule

Almost every worker is entitled to 5.6 weeks' paid holiday a year. Calculating it for anything other than a standard full-timer is where employers slip.

The statutory minimum

Workers are entitled to 5.6 weeks' paid annual leave - 28 days for someone working five days a week. Employers can include bank holidays within this, or give them on top.

Part-time and irregular hours

  • Part-timers get 5.6 weeks pro-rata (e.g. a 3-day week gives 16.8 days).
  • For irregular-hours and part-year workers, entitlement can be calculated as 12.07% of hours worked, following recent changes to the rules.

Holiday pay

Holiday pay must reflect normal remuneration, including regular overtime and commission - not just basic pay.

Last reviewed September 2026. General information, not legal advice - check ACAS and GOV.UK for your situation.

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