Towards the end of 2021, we highlighted the need for colleagues to use their annual leave and any additional days carried forward, to take regular breaks from work. Across 2022, we want to ensure that leave is being used throughout, so there is not an excess number of days built up towards the end of the year, as the carry over policy will revert to no more than 5 days at the end of 2022.
To support staff in taking leave and ensure managers can properly plan and accommodate requests, we would like all professional services staff to take 40% of their full leave entitlement, by the end of June. This has been set out so that by the end of the calendar year we are not in a difficult position with overwhelmed staff and untaken leave.
Guidance on taking your leave in 2022:
- You should aim to take approximately 40% your leave entitlement, including the standard 25 days leave (pro-rata), plus any leave which you have carried over from the previous year, by 30 June 2022. This does include School closure days and bank holidays.
- If you have already planned to take a higher proportion of leave in the second half of the year, please discuss this with your line manager as soon as possible so that they are aware of how you plan to use your leave entitlement throughout this year
- At the end of this year, you will only be able to carry over 5 days or fewer, reverting to the standard contractual carry over in place, pre-pandemic
- Managers are aware of this and should make reasonable efforts and accommodations so that staff can use their leave in this time
- Leave should be booked through MyView. You can view key dates for School closure and bank holidays online.
Why is this request being made this year and will it apply next year?
During the pandemic, it was agreed that up to twenty days’ leave (pro rata if part-time) could exceptionally be carried over into 2021 and taken throughout 2021/22. As such, the expectation is that normal carry over entitlements will resume at the end of 2022. This means individuals will be able to carry over up to five days’ leave (pro rata) from their 2022 allowance into 2023.
These changes were introduced to allow staff more flexibility in taking their leave given the exceptional circumstances as a result of the pandemic and the impact that this had on individuals’ working arrangements, home lives and travel plans. We are aware, however, that for various reasons, this has resulted in many people not taking regular breaks, which has, in some cases, led to a build-up of annual leave.
As this is the final year where the additional carry over can be used, we want to make sure we are helping staff to plan and use their leave, ensuring they are supported by managers and that proper planning can be put in place to make this possible.
This is not a permanent change to how leave is used at LSE.