Annual Leave Policy - Dudley Primary Care Trust

1. Policy Statement1.1 Annual Leave is an important element of Staff Terms and Conditions whichcontributes towards achieving work life balance. This policy and procedure aimsto provide a uniform and equitable approach to the calculation and taking ofAnnual Leave and Bank Holiday entitlements.1.2 This policy is written in light of Part Time Workers Regulations 2000, WorkingTime Regulations 1998 and National Terms and Conditions under the ‘Agendafor Change’ Agreement. A key principal is that, to encourage an appropriatework life balance, employees should plan to take full entitlement, whereverpracticable to do so, year on year.1.3 The policy applies to all employees of the Trust except for Doctors and Dentistswho are within the remit of the Review Body on Doctors’ and Dentists’Remuneration.1.4 All line managers have a responsibility to monitor and ensure that staff aretaking Annual Leave at regular intervals. Individuals also have a personalresponsibility to plan their Annual Leave and agree it with their manager inadvance. Annual leave requests should not be unreasonably refused and wherethere are particular issues to consider, Managers may wish to provide adepartmental protocol, agreed with their team, on the taking of Annual Leave.2. Annual Leave YearThe annual leave year runs from 1 April to 31 March.3. Entitlement3.1 The basic Annual Leave provisions under National Terms and Conditions‘Agenda for Change’ which came into force on 1 October 2004 are outlinedbelow:Length of serviceOn appointmentAfter 5 years serviceAfter 10 years serviceAnnual leave + General PublicHolidays27 days + 8 days29 days + 8 days33 days + 8 days3.2 The above is based on staff within the NHS working ‘5 shifts’ or days of 7½hours per week, excluding meal breaks. For all staff, Annual Leave will becalculated in hours, although Annual Leave will normally be taken in days.Where staff work standard days other than 7½ hours, Annual Leave entitlementis calculated on an hourly basis to prevent staff on those arrangements receivinggreater or less Leave than colleagues on ‘standard’ days. See table atAppendix 13.3 All part-time staff will have their Annual Leave entitlement calculated in hours ona pro-rata basis. See table at Appendix 13