It's likely that many people in a business won't have taken much of their annual leave yet. Holidays are important because it helps people to get some rest and to keep healthy both mentally and physically. 

However, in these unprecedented times, taking annual leave just doesn't feel the same because we are not at liberty to travel or do what we want. Weekends don't feel too different to the weekdays - except possibly less structured, so many people likely don't see the point in taking annual leave. 

Annual leave allowance is typically around 5.6 weeks and the amount that companies allow employees to carry over is five days maximum.

When the UK comes out of this unprecedented and difficult time, it's likely that businesses will want their workforce to be picking up the pace on the road to recovery, so leaders won't want them to be taking their annual leave entitlement in the space of six months.

The government has announced that it will temporarily allow people to carry over up to four weeks of paid annual leave, over two years. This law applies for any holiday that the employee does not take due to Coronavirus. For example:

•  they are self isolating or too sick to take holiday before the end of the year
• they have been temporarily sent home (put on furlough) as there is no work
• They have had to continue working and could not take paid holiday

This certainly makes more business sense for productivity and employee satisfaction of not losing holiday. However, it does mean that if someone leaves the business, they are entitled to the paid annual leave they have accrued. It also means that the workforce may not be rested. 

What happens if someone is on furlough?

People who have been furloughed are still entitled to their paid annual leave and bank holidays. They can still request paid holiday and take their bank holidays as usual.

What can employers do to help their people?

It's important to tell your employees what the new policy will be about carrying over annual leave. It's also worth encouraging your people to take some annual leave, even if it's just a day or two. The challenges that COVID-19 presents are draining for everyone for different reasons, and it's important to recuperate.