Do I accrue holiday during maternity leave?

Yes, you continue to accrue statutory holiday entitlement during maternity leave. This includes your full annual leave allowance (28 days including bank holidays for full-time) for the entire period you're on maternity leave.

Can I take holiday before starting maternity leave?

Yes, you can take holiday before your maternity leave starts. Many women take accrued holiday to extend their maternity leave period, effectively giving them longer off work. Check with your employer about their policies.

What happens to bank holidays during maternity leave?

If a bank holiday falls during your maternity leave and your employer operates under Model A (bank holidays separate), you can claim this day back as additional annual leave. Model B employers include bank holidays in the 28 days, so no extra days are accrued.

How is holiday pay calculated during maternity leave?

Holiday pay during maternity leave is calculated at your normal rate of pay, not your reduced maternity pay rate. This means when you take holiday before or after maternity leave, you receive your full salary for those days.

Maternity Leave Holiday Calculator

Calculate how much holiday entitlement you accrue during maternity leave. Under UK employment law, your annual leave continues to build up while you're on maternity leave, giving you extra days to take when you return to work.

How Holiday Accrues During Maternity Leave

During maternity leave, you continue to accrue your full statutory holiday entitlement of 5.6 weeks per year. This applies whether you're on Statutory Maternity Pay (SMP) or maternity allowance. For a full-time worker, this means you'll accrue 28 days of annual leave during your 52-week maternity leave period.

Key Rules to Understand

You accrue holiday at your normal rate throughout maternity leave
Bank holidays that fall during your leave may also accrue as additional leave
You can take accrued holiday immediately before or after your maternity leave
Your employer cannot force you to take holiday during maternity leave itself
Your accrued holiday entitlement is protected by law and cannot be taken away

When to Take Your Accrued Holiday

Many parents choose to add accrued holiday days to the end of their maternity leave, effectively extending their time off work. Others prefer to take some days before maternity leave starts. This calculator helps you work out exactly how much leave you've accrued and the best way to structure your time off. Source: GOV.UK Maternity Pay and Leave

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Maternity Leave Holiday Calculator

How Holiday Accrues During Maternity Leave

Key Rules to Understand

When to Take Your Accrued Holiday

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