Holiday, Holiday pay and Unpaid - unsure

Fayelizabeth

Hi Guys!

I just started a new job in a clinic as a receptionist. I work Monday-Thursday 8 hours a day, 32 a week. My employer has said I can choose to take stat holiday and bank holidays as paid or unpaid. I am not sure what my best bet is, I'd rather have extra holiday days to use in the summer. Is it wise to take them unpaid?

The clinic is closed from 24th December up until 4th January, which is 5 days I'd usually work and one of those is a stat holiday (28 December) but I am only not working because the clinic is closed, so should my employer allow me to take this as unpaid leave, or should I take it as paid holiday? I'm a bit confused. The people that run the clinic are lovely but a bit clueless as to my rights.

Any help would be much appreciated.

martinsurrey

Other than making sure you get AT LEAST the statutory number of paid holidays per year, 180 hours in your case, being 32 X 5.6, the rest is determined by your contract.

Your employer can decide when and how you take holidays.

so its up to you if you want extra holidays, take them unpaid, and save your annual holidays.

KiKi

It sounds like your employer is saying that you can take as much unpaid leave as you like (!), but to be honest, it makes no sense, really.

You are entitled to 22.4 days paid leave (unless your contract states you're entitled to more), whether that's BHs or Annual Leave. If you wish to take any more time off unpaid that's completely your choice and your employer's choice by the sounds of it. But unless you plan on taking more than 28 days a year, there's no point in taking any of it unpaid!

KiKi

Fayelizabeth

Thanks for the replies!

Can I just check, is the stat holiday amount 28 days including bank holidays or is it 22 days including bank holidays?

specialboy

Stat min for a full timer working 5 days a week is 28 days which can include the bank holidays. You only work 4/5ths of this so are entitled to a minimum of 4/5ths of 28 which as said above equals 22.4 days.