Allowing time off work

Paid and unpaid statutory time-off rights for workers

Guide

The table below shows whether you are legally obliged to pay an employee or worker for time off due to a particular reason.

Reason for the time off	All workers or employees only?	Statutory or discretionary?	Must the time off be paid?
Reason for the time off Annual leave - 5.6 weeks	All workers or employees only? All workers	Statutory or discretionary? Statutory	Must the time off be paid? Yes
Reason for the time off Bank and public holidays *	All workers or employees only? All workers	Statutory or discretionary? Discretionary	Must the time off be paid? No, unless it is part of the minimum statutory annual leave entitlement
Reason for the time off Training/continuing education for 16-18 year olds	All workers or employees only? Employees only	Statutory or discretionary? Statutory	Must the time off be paid? Yes
Reason for the time off Training to be, and working as, a representative of employee safety	All workers or employees only? Employees only	Statutory or discretionary? Statutory	Must the time off be paid? Yes
Reason for the time off Training to be, and carrying out duties as, a pension scheme trustee	All workers or employees only? Employees only	Statutory or discretionary? Statutory	Must the time off be paid? Yes
Reason for the time off Training for, and carrying out, trade union duties, including as a union learning and union safety representative	All workers or employees only? Employees only	Statutory or discretionary? Statutory	Must the time off be paid? Yes
Reason for the time off Carrying out trade union activities	All workers or employees only? Employees only	Statutory or discretionary? Statutory	Must the time off be paid? No
Reason for the time off Training for, and carrying out duties as, a union representative	All workers or employees only? Employees only	Statutory or discretionary? Statutory	Must the time off be paid? Yes
Reason for the time off Accompanying a colleague at a disciplinary/grievance/ flexible working request	All workers or employees only? All workers	Statutory or discretionary? Statutory	Must the time off be paid? Yes
Reason for the time off Carrying out duties as an employee representative in a collective redundancy situation - including making arrangements to be elected and training as such a representative	All workers or employees only? Employees only	Statutory or discretionary? Statutory	Must the time off be paid? Yes
Reason for the time off Carrying out duties as an employee representative in a Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) (TUPE) transfer situation - including making arrangements to be elected and training as such a representative	All workers or employees only? Employees only	Statutory or discretionary? Statutory	Must the time off be paid? Yes
Reason for the time off Carrying out duties as a negotiating representative or information and consultation representative	All workers or employees only? Employees only	Statutory or discretionary? Statutory	Must the time off be paid? Yes
Reason for the time off Jobhunting/training when being made redundant	All workers or employees only? Employees only	Statutory or discretionary? Statutory	Must the time off be paid? Yes
Reason for the time off Carrying out duties as a member of a special negotiating body or European works council, or an information and consultation representative - including making arrangements to be elected as such a member or representative	All workers or employees only? Employees only	Statutory or discretionary? Statutory	Must the time off be paid? No
Reason for the time off Suspension from work on medical grounds	All workers or employees only? Employees only	Statutory or discretionary? Statutory	Must the time off be paid? Yes, for employees with at least one month's service, and for a maximum of six months
Reason for the time off Suspension from work on maternity grounds	All workers or employees only? Employees only	Statutory or discretionary? Statutory	Must the time off be paid? Yes
Reason for the time off Emergencies involving a dependant	All workers or employees only? Employees only	Statutory or discretionary? Statutory	Must the time off be paid? No
Reason for the time off Maternity leave (52 weeks)	All workers or employees only? Employees only	Statutory or discretionary? Statutory	Must the time off be paid? Yes (39 of the 52 weeks - subject to certain qualification criteria) **
Reason for the time off Paternity leave (single block of one or two consecutive weeks - subject to certain qualification criteria)	All workers or employees only? Employees only	Statutory or discretionary? Statutory	Must the time off be paid? Yes - subject to certain qualification criteria **
Reason for the time off Adoption leave (52 weeks - subject to certain qualification criteria)	All workers or employees only? Employees only	Statutory or discretionary? Statutory	Must the time off be paid? Yes (39 of the 52 weeks - subject to certain qualification criteria) **
Reason for the time off Parental leave (subject to certain qualification criteria)	All workers or employees only? Employees only	Statutory or discretionary? Statutory	Must the time off be paid? No
Reason for the time off Parental bereavement leave	All workers or employees only? Employees only	Statutory or discretionary? Statutory	Must the time off be paid? Yes, subject to certain qualification criteria
Reason for the time off Antenatal care	All workers or employees only? Employees only	Statutory or discretionary? Statutory	Must the time off be paid? Yes
Reason for the time off Compassionate leave, eg to attend the funeral of a non-dependant	All workers or employees only? All workers	Statutory or discretionary? Discretionary	Must the time off be paid? No
Reason for the time off Visiting a sick relative	All workers or employees only? All workers	Statutory or discretionary? Discretionary	Must the time off be paid? No
Reason for the time off Moving house	All workers or employees only? All workers	Statutory or discretionary? Discretionary	Must the time off be paid? No
Reason for the time off Religious observance	All workers or employees only? All workers	Statutory or discretionary? Discretionary	Must the time off be paid? No - but avoid discrimination on the grounds of religion/belief
Reason for the time off Carrying out public duties, eg as a magistrate, school governor, or member of a local authority	All workers or employees only? Employees only	Statutory or discretionary? Statutory	Must the time off be paid? No
Reason for the time off Jury service	All workers or employees only? All workers	Statutory or discretionary? Statutory	Must the time off be paid? No
Reason for the time off Territorial Army and reservist training	All workers or employees only? All workers	Statutory or discretionary? Discretionary	Must the time off be paid? No
Reason for the time off Active duty as a reservist	All workers or employees only? All workers	Statutory or discretionary? Discretionary	Must the time off be paid? No
Reason for the time off Extended leave/sabbatical	All workers or employees only? All workers	Statutory or discretionary? Discretionary	Must the time off be paid? No

* You must set out arrangements for working on public and bank holidays in each worker's written statement of employment particulars, including whether or not time off on such days will be paid or unpaid. See the employment contract.

** You can claim most or all of this statutory payment back from HM Revenue and Customs - see statutory leave and pay entitlements.

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