Workplace Report November 2001

Features: Law at work

New rights to paid holidays

All workers, regardless of whether they are employed on permanent or temporary contracts, now have the right to at least 20 days' paid holiday over the year. Since 25 October 2001 workers have the legal right to accrue holidays on a month-by-month basis, with the worker getting entitlement to a twelfth of the annual entitlement for every month worked. Employers have the right to turn down requests for annual leave at particular periods (for example on the grounds that the demands of the job do not allow it). However, they cannot simply refuse any paid holidays to temporary workers.