United Kingdom

Leave

Annual Leave

• Employer Type: Single employer.
• Eligibility: All employees, including agency workers, zero-hours, and part-year employees.
• Entitlement: 5.6 weeks per year, capped at 28 days.
• Pay: Full wages, paid by the employer.
• Unused Leave: Must be paid in lieu upon termination of employment.

Sick Leave

• Eligibility:

  • Employer must pay Class 1 National Insurance contributions.
  • Employee is sick for 4 or more consecutive days (including non-working days).
  • Notification provided within the required timeframe (typically within 7 days).
  • Medical certification required for absences exceeding 7 consecutive days.
• Entitlement: Up to 28 weeks.
• Pay: GBP 118.75 per week, paid by the employer.

Maternity Leave

• Eligibility: Employees under a contract of employment who notify the employer within the required timeframe.

• Statutory Pay Eligibility:

  • Employed during the “qualifying week” (15 weeks before the expected due date).
  • Continuous employment of at least 26 weeks by the qualifying week.
  • Average weekly pre-tax earnings of at least GBP 125 during the 8-week “relevant period”.
  • Timely notification and proof of pregnancy provided.
• Entitlement: Up to 52 weeks (26 weeks of Ordinary Maternity Leave and 26 weeks of Additional Maternity Leave), commencing up to 11 weeks before the due date, with a compulsory 2-week postnatal leave period.
• Pay: Up to 39 weeks — 90% of average weekly pre-tax earnings for the first 6 weeks; thereafter the lower of 90% of earnings or GBP 187.18 per week, paid by the employer.

Other Leave Types

• Paternity, Adoption, and Surrogacy Leave:

  • Eligibility: Employees whose spouse or partner is giving birth, adopting, or having a child via surrogacy.
  • Duration: 1 or 2 weeks, to be taken within 52 weeks of birth or placement.
  • Pay: Lower of 90% of average weekly pre-tax earnings or GBP 187.18 per week, paid by the employer.

• Time Off for Antenatal Appointments:

  • Eligibility: Fathers, spouses or partners, long-term partners, or intended parents in surrogacy arrangements.
  • Duration: Up to 6.5 hours per appointment, for a maximum of two appointments.
  • This leave is unpaid.

• Shared Parental Leave (SPL):

  • Eligibility: Parents following childbirth or adoption.
  • Duration: Up to 50 weeks (remaining maternity leave), which may be taken in up to three blocks within the first year.
  • Pay: Up to 37 weeks, based on remaining statutory maternity pay entitlement.

• Neonatal Care Leave:

  • Eligibility: Where a child (of the employee or their partner) requires neonatal care within 28 days of birth for at least 7 consecutive days.
  • Duration: Up to 12 weeks, to be taken within 68 weeks of birth.
  • Pay: Lower of 90% of average weekly pre-tax earnings or GBP 187.18 per week, paid by the employer.

• Bereavement Leave:

  • Eligibility: Loss of a child under 18 or stillbirth after 24 weeks of pregnancy.
  • Duration: Up to 2 weeks per child, to be taken within 56 weeks.
  • Pay: Lower of 90% of average weekly pre-tax earnings or GBP 187.18 per week, paid by the employer.

• Study or Training Leave:

  • Eligibility: Employees with at least 26 weeks of continuous service; training must be relevant to the role; employer must have 250 or more employees.
  • Duration: As agreed between employer and employee.
  • This leave is unpaid.

• Public Duties Leave:

  • Eligibility: Individuals serving in public roles (e.g. magistrates, local councillors, trade union officials, reservists).
  • Duration: As required.
  • This leave is unpaid.