Annual leave is not simply a company favour — for qualifying employees, minimum leave entitlements are set by law, and an employer must grant accumulated leave within six months after the end of the relevant cycle. Understanding this helps employees distinguish statutory leave from additional benefits an employer chooses to offer.
Source: Basic Conditions of Employment Act
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the minimum always exactly 21 calendar days?
The Act provides 21 consecutive days or specified alternative calculations agreed between employer and employee.
Can an employer simply pay me instead of giving annual leave?
Generally, payment instead of statutory annual leave is restricted, with specific rules applying on termination.
Does annual leave include public holidays?
Special rules apply where a public holiday falls during annual leave on a day the employee would ordinarily have worked.