UK employees ‘are finding it hard to take their holidays’

Posted 10/08/2010

Some British companies could be breaching employment law by failing to give staff their full holiday entitlements.

A WorkMonitor survey carried out by Randstad found that while 67 per cent of employees believe their workload has increased in the second quarter of 2010, many think this is not being managed properly and is preventing them from taking their holidays.

Some 40 per cent said they have too much to do to take the time off they would like, while 43 per cent reported receiving questions from colleagues when they do manage to get away.

Furthermore, 61 per cent find they have to work harder when they get back because work has stacked up and 63 per cent said their workload increases when their colleagues take time off.

Randstad spokeswoman Ruth Jacobs said: ‘Our survey indicates that taking a proper break is getting harder and productivity is suffering as a result.’

British employment law states that full-time staff are entitled to 5.6 weeks of paid annual leave.

Employers who do not meet these requirements may be in breach of contract and could be subject to legal action.