Irregular Hours Holiday Calculator
Calculate holiday entitlement for zero-hours contracts, casual workers, and variable-hour employees. Following the April 2024 Employment Rights Regulations, irregular hours workers can have holiday pay calculated using either the 52-week average method or the 12.07% accrual method.
Calculation Methods Explained
The 52-week average method calculates your entitlement based on actual hours worked over the past year. The 12.07% method (restored April 2024) calculates holiday as 12.07% of hours worked in each pay period. Both methods ensure you receive the statutory minimum of 5.6 weeks paid holiday per year.
Who This Calculator Is For
- Zero-hours contract workers with variable schedules
- Casual and agency staff with irregular patterns
- Part-year workers (e.g., term-time only)
- Workers whose hours change from week to week
- Bank staff and on-call workers
The Harper v Brazel Ruling
The Supreme Court's 2023 ruling in Harper v Brazel confirmed that part-year workers with permanent contracts are entitled to the full 5.6 weeks statutory holiday, not pro-rated based on weeks worked. This significantly benefits term-time workers and those with irregular patterns. Source: GOV.UK Holiday Entitlement Rights
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the 12.07% accrual method for irregular hours workers?
The 12.07% accrual method calculates holiday entitlement for irregular or part-year workers. It is derived from 5.6 weeks ÷ 46.4 working weeks (52 minus 5.6) = 12.07%. This method was restored from 1 April 2024 under the Employment Rights (Amendment, Revocation and Transitional Provision) Regulations 2024.
How is the 12.07% rate calculated?
The 12.07% rate is calculated as (5.6 ÷ 46.4) × 100. It represents the statutory minimum holiday entitlement of 5.6 weeks expressed as a percentage of the non-holiday working weeks in a year.
Is rolled-up holiday pay legal for irregular hours workers?
Yes, from 1 April 2024 rolled-up holiday pay is lawful for irregular hours and part-year workers. It must be at least 12.07% of pay and shown as a separate line item on payslips. Use our rolled-up holiday pay calculator or see GOV.UK for details.
How should holiday pay be calculated for irregular hours workers?
Holiday pay should reflect average earnings over the previous 52 paid weeks. Weeks with no pay are excluded from the average. This ensures the rate reflects typical earnings including any regular overtime or variable pay.
Who counts as an irregular hours or part-year worker?
Irregular hours workers have hours that are wholly or mostly variable under their contract. Part-year workers are employed year-round but only work certain weeks, such as term-time workers, zero-hours workers, and casual workers.