Carry over of annual leave

With effect at the end of the first full birthday leave year, a maximum of five days (standard 37 hours) annual may be carried forward into the following leave year, subject to mutual agreement between the manager and employee.

Part-time employees may carry forward the pro rata equivalent of five days (37 hours). Payment will not be made for annual leave not taken in any leave year or within the carry forward period (with the exception of on leaving as set out above and any statutory provision in relation to sickness and/or maternity absence).

The following guidelines must be followed:

• Carry forward of leave must be agreed between the employee and their line manager at a date when it is still possible for the leave to be taken.
• It is acceptable for services to seek to avoid the routine carry forward of leave by asking employees to organise their leave within the leave year.

In addition, Chief Officers can, in exceptional circumstances and by mutual agreement, agree to the carry forward of annual leave of more than five days (37 hours).  This would usually apply in a situation where an employee is asked, for business or operational reasons, not to take leave at a particular time. This would not apply where an employee had been absent on sick or maternity leave