Annual Leave

Basic Entitlement:

            

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Leave taken in complete weeks

When annual leave is taken in complete weeks, one week should be any period of 7 consecutive days. This would include weekends, whether or not there is an on-call commitment.

 

Untaken leave

Where a SHO has been unable to take the full allowance of annual leave before the end of the ‘leave year’ they are allowed to carry over up to 5 days, subject to the exigencies of the service. Authorisation is required from the employer and payment in lieu of leave not taken cannot normally be made. Employers often restrict leave such that only one doctor per rota can be on leave at any one time. If SHO’s wait until the end of the post to take leave, they may not get it.

Provided employers inform SHO’s of this at the start of the post, they can refuse to pay in lieu for leave not taken. In general, it is more beneficial to take leave than to be paid in lieu, since payment in lieu for a day’s leave is normally made at only 1/31 of a month’s salary.

 

Carry over of leave from one post to another is often contentious and if possible should be agreed in advance with the new employer/ consultant.                                                                                          

Transferring leave from post to post

Where a SHO transfers from one post to another in the NHS, they are permitted to transfer the balance of leave remaining in the leave year. House officers may only transfer up to 4 days’ leave. The previous employer is responsible for notifying the next employer about the outstanding leave.

 

Notification of leave

SHO’s are required to notify their employer when they wish to take leave, and the granting of such leave is subject to approved arrangements having been made for cover. It is usual for the employer to ask for a minimum period of six weeks’ notice of intention to take leave.

 

Sickness during annual leave

If a SHO falls sick during annual leave and produces a statement to that effect at the time (e.g. a self-certificate) the SHO should be regarded as being on sick leave from the date of the statement. Medical statements are required to cover a period of more than 7 days.

 

Public Holidays

Full time SHO’s are entitled to 10 paid statutory and public holidays each year as follows:

¨ New Years Day

¨ Good Friday

¨ Easter Monday

¨ May Day

¨ Spring Bank Holiday

¨ Late Summer Holiday

¨ Christmas Day

¨ Boxing Day, and two additional days which may either be specified by the employer or converted into annual leave.

 

Part-time SHO’s are entitled to statutory and public holidays on the above days if they are normally working those days.

 

Working on public holidays

If a SHO is required to be on duty at any time, including between midnight and 9am on a statutory or public holiday they should receive a day off in lieu. If the SHO is required to continue working the normal day it may be possible to negotiate an additional day off in lieu. If it is not feasible to take these days in lieu, then pay in lieu can be given.

 

 

 

Prospective cover

Study and professional leave