September 2026
Covid Holiday Carry Over Draws To A Conclusion
Author: Adam McGlynn
Key Contact: Claire Knowles
During the pandemic, legislation was introduced to enable workers to carry over up to 4 weeks of unused holiday for up to 2 years. This eased the requirements on businesses to ensure that workers take the statutory amount of annual leave in any one year and allowed staff to continue working in the national effort against Covid without losing out on annual leave entitlement. From 31 March 2024, this right has come to an end. Workers will still be entitled to carry over:
- 5.6 weeks’ if leave cannot be taken due to family-related leave such as maternity leave, adoption leave and shared parental leave.
- 4 weeks’ where it could not be taken due to sickness (for a maximum of 18 months).
- 4 weeks’ if the employer fails to recognise the worker’s right to take leave, failed to give reasonable opportunity to take it, or failed to inform the worker that they would lose their leave if it’s not used by the end of the year.
Employers should review untaken holiday and inform all relevant staff of their entitlement to carry over or not and ensure there are systems and documents in place communicating the right to take holiday. If you have any queries in relation to carrying over holidays, please get in touch with the Employment Team.
