What’s the law on encouraging uptake of annual leave?

Stacie Cheadle, Croner-i technical writer, looks at what employers can do to ensure they are meeting their obligations when it comes to employee annual leave

In 2024, the laws on annual leave were clarified when the Working Time Regulations 1998 were updated.

Now that 2025 is well under way, it is a good time for employers to refresh their memories of some of these changes.

Are employers required to remind employees to take their annual leave or risk losing it once the holiday year ends, or is having a holiday policy that states that enough?

Since amendments to the Working Time Regulations 1998 (WTR) took effect on 1 January 2024, employers must give their staff a reasonable opportunity to take leave and encourage them to do so.

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