Annual leave

What annual leave are you entitled to?

• Less than 2 years’ service - 22 days
• 2 or more years’ service - 25 days
• 5 or more years’ service - 25 days
• 10 or more years’ service - 27 days
• 15 or more years’ service - 28 days
• 20 or more years’ service - 30 days

What if your date of joining or retirement falls during the leave year?

In these circumstances, you need to pro rata the annual leave entitlement for the number of completed months of service. Therefore, if you have 10 years’ service during October, you’ll have completed 6 months’ service during that leave year. You are therefore entitled to 50 per cent of the annual leave increase, thus giving an increase of 1 day’s annual leave to be taken from the October on. The next annual leave year would see the full increase to 27 days. If you were to retire with 30 years’ service in October, you would be entitled to claim 50 per cent of your annual leave entitlement i.e. 15 days or 120 hours.

Can you take half a day’s annual leave?

Yes. Leave can be taken in blocks, as single days or in half days, subject to the exigencies of duty. If taken as a half day, you are not entitled to a meal break.

Can you carry annual leave over to the next annual leave year?

Yes. It is at the discretion of the chief officer to allow you to carry over up to five annual leave days to the next year. However, in exceptional circumstances and if in the interests of the efficiency of the Force, more can be granted.

Can you take annual leave in lieu of the following years’ annual leave?

Yes. It is at the discretion of the chief officer to allow you to bring forward up to five annual leave days of the next year’s annual leave entitlement to be taken in the last month of that year.

What happens if you’ve been recalled to duty on an annual leave day?

If you’ve been required to work on an annual leave day, or a day taken off in lieu of over-time which is attached to a period of annual leave, where the period of absence is at least three days and at least one of those days is a day of annual leave, you are entitled to:

For one or two days an additional two days’ annual leave (or, if you choose, one day’s annual leave and one day’s pay at double time) in lieu of each such day for which you were so recalled; or

For three or more days - two days’ annual leave (or, if you choose, one day’s annual leave and one day’s pay at double time) in lieu of each of the first two such days for which you were so recalled, and 1.5 days’ annual leave (or, if you choose, one day’s annual leave and 0.5 day’s pay at double time) in lieu of each such day for which you were so recalled thereafter.

This applies to those required to work on an annual leave day as well as those recalled on such days.

What if I have a rest day cancelled which is attached to my annual leave?

From 1 May, 2014, if you are required to work on a rest day or free day which is attached to a period of annual leave, that day will be treated as if it were an annual leave day (see above for annual leave remuneration). For this to apply, the period of absence must be of five days or more with at least one of those days being an annual leave day. You can see the PNB agreement for this here.

Can you take annual leave when on sickness absence?

No. You can’t be on annual leave and sickness absence at the same time. However, you can take a break away as long as you are contactable and your journey or break is not detrimental to your recovery. You should inform your supervisor if you wish to go away while on sickness absence.

What do you do if called on to court on annual leave?

You should contact your Fed rep and try to negotiate a means of progressing the case without the need for you to attend or adjourn the case to a suitable date. Ultimately, though, if warned for court you have to attend. In such circumstances, if going on holiday, the Federation travel insurance will normally cover you for the cancellation or curtailment of your holiday, as long as you were not aware of the court date when the holiday was booked.