Annual Leave

Loads of leave left?

Home Office policy on carrying over annual leave.

It's that time of year when those lucky enough to have annual leave left after planned time off over the festive period will need to decide what to do with it. The current Home Office leave year ends on 28 February 2021.

PCS reps have been approached with queries over whether members need a good reason to carry over leave in 2021. Home Office annual leave policy is clear that members are "allowed" to carry over up to 9 days annual leave (pro rata) to the following leave year. This leave will be carried over automatically on Metis.

A request to carry over leave in excess of 9 days will require a decision by the Head of Unit. The circumstances under which such a request will be granted are likely to be few and far between so members shouldn't rely on this approach.

Under the Working Time (Coronavirus) (Amendment) Regulations 2020, carrying over leave into the next two leave years may be allowed if employees have been specifically prevented from taking leave because of COVID-19. If you think that you are in this situation you need to discuss the option of additional carry over in the first instance with your line manager but the granting of such requests are likely to be the exception rather than the rule.

The Home Office annual leave policy states:

4.1 You are allowed to carry over up to 9 days (66.6 hours or 64.8 hours for London pre-modernised hours) leave and can anticipate up to 7 days (51.8 hours or 50.4 hours for London pre-modernised hours) leave during the last month of the annual leave year, subject to the usual leave approval process. These amounts are pro-rated for part time staff.

4.2 If you want to carry over or anticipate leave beyond these limits you will need to make a request to your head of unit, who has authority to allow this when there are exceptional circumstances.

If you are told anything other than the above bring the Home Office policy to the attention of your manager.

NB. The number of hours that can be carried over as shown above are correct. The numbers currently shown in the Metis guidance are slightly different and incorrect.