Employment rules on carrying over annual leave relaxed because of Coronavirus

Charities with employees should be aware of new emergency regulations which came into force on 26 March, relaxing the normal rules on the carrying over of annual leave.

Workers will now be able to carry over up to 4 weeks’ annual leave into the next two leave years if they are not able to take it because of the Coronavirus.

Under the normal rules, Working Time Directive leave cannot be carried over. The changes give employers more flexibility, while protecting workers’ rights to annual leave, and will be particularly welcomed in sectors working non-stop in the coming weeks in the national effort against the Coronavirus (for example, the health and care sector).

For more detail on the rule changes, head over to our sister blog hr law live.