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Requirement for employee to take annual leave letter template

£ 15

Use this model requirement to take annual leave letter to inform an employee that they are required to take annual leave over a specified period. 

Reading time
How long to understand and prepare this letter?
10 mins
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What is a Requirement for employee to take annual leave letter?

A Requirement for Employee to Take Annual Leave Letter is a written communication from an employer to an employee requiring them to take a certain amount of their annual leave entitlement during a specific period. This letter is typically issued to employees who have not taken their full annual leave entitlement for the year, and the requirement is made to ensure that employees take their full leave entitlement before the end of the year. Alternatively, it can be used during periods of company shut down, such as Christmas.

The letter will typically outline the requirement for the employee to take annual leave and the reasons for this requirement. It will also specify how much leave the employee is required to take, the period during which the leave must be taken, and any relevant restrictions or requirements.

The letter should be issued well in advance to give the employee sufficient notice and opportunity to plan their leave. The notice period will depend on the length of leave required and any relevant policies or contractual terms. The employee should also be given the opportunity to discuss the requirement with their manager and raise any concerns or issues they may have.

Employers have a legal obligation to ensure that employees take their full annual leave entitlement each year, and failure to do so could result in employees being entitled to carry over some or all of their annual leave to the following year or being paid in lieu of their untaken leave upon termination of employment.

A Requirement for Employee to Take Annual Leave Letter can help employers ensure that their employees take their full annual leave entitlement and avoid potential legal issues or disputes. It is important that all employment policies and procedures are compliant with UK employment legislation to ensure that employees' rights are protected and employers are operating in a fair and legal manner.

Applicable legal jurisdictions
In which jurisdictions can this letter be used?
Great Britain & NI (United Kingdom), Worldwide

What legislation or best practices underpin this template / should I be aware of?

United Kingdom

Here are some UK employment legislation considerations to keep in mind when implementing a requirement for an employee to take annual leave and drafting a corresponding letter:

  • The Working Time Regulations 1998 require employers to provide a minimum of 28 days' paid annual leave to full-time employees (pro-rated for part-time employees).
  • Employers must ensure that employees are taking their annual leave entitlement each year, as failure to do so could result in employees being entitled to carry over some or all of their annual leave to the following year or being paid in lieu of their untaken leave upon termination of employment.
  • Employers should have a clear policy in place outlining how and when employees should take their annual leave entitlement, as well as any restrictions or requirements. This policy should be communicated to employees and easily accessible.
  • Employers cannot require employees to take annual leave during a period of sickness absence, but can offer employees the option to take annual leave instead of sick leave.
  • Employers should be mindful of potential discrimination issues when requiring employees to take annual leave, particularly if it conflicts with employees' religious or cultural practices.
  • The letter to the employee should clearly state the requirement for the employee to take annual leave and the reasons for this requirement (e.g. to ensure that the employee takes their full annual leave entitlement). It should also outline how much leave the employee is required to take, the period during which the leave must be taken, and any relevant restrictions or requirements.
  • The letter should be issued in advance to give the employee sufficient notice and opportunity to plan their leave. The notice period will depend on the length of leave required and any relevant policies or contractual terms.
  • The letter should also explain the consequences of not taking the required annual leave (e.g. potential carry over or payment in lieu upon termination of employment).
  • It is recommended to offer the employee the opportunity to discuss the requirement with their manager and raise any concerns or issues they may have.
  • The letter should be clear, concise, and professional in tone, and should be kept on file for future reference.

It is important to ensure that all employment policies and procedures are compliant with UK employment legislation to avoid potential legal issues or disputes.


Other territories

Refer to your local employment legislation / labor laws to support the execution of the template. Review the wording for local accuracy.

Letter template

Requirement for employee to take annual leave [Delete this line]


[Company name]

[Sender address]

 

[date]

[Recipient name]

[Recipient address]

 

Dear [Recipient first name],

 

Notice of required annual leave

This letter is to inform you that you are required by the Company to take annual leave from [date] to [date], amounting to [number] days. Thiis is due to [insret details, such as Christmas or Summer shutdown etc.].

This period of leave will be deducted from your annual leave entitlement and the Company’s records will be amended accordingly.

[OR}

As the end of the leave year approaches, I am writing to remind you that you have not taken your full entitlement of annual leave for the year [insert leave year]. Under UK employment legislation, it is a legal obligation for us to ensure that all employees take their full entitlement of annual leave.

In light of this, I am requiring you to take [insert number of days] days of annual leave before the end of the leave year. This requirement will help to ensure that you receive the rest and recuperation that you are entitled to and that you are refreshed and productive when you return to work.

The required period of leave will be from [insert start date] to [insert end date]. Please note that this period includes any public holidays that may occur during this time.

If you have any difficulties in taking leave during this period, please speak to your line manager to discuss alternative arrangements. However, I would strongly encourage you to take your leave during the specified period to ensure compliance with our obligations under UK employment legislation.

Please confirm in writing that you have received this letter and that you understand and will comply with the requirement to take annual leave as outlined above.

If you have any queries or concerns, please do not hesitate to discuss them with your line manager or the HR department.

If you wish to discuss any aspect of this letter, please speak to [name].

Yours [faithfully | sincerely],

 

 

[Sender name]

[Sender job title]

[Sender telephone]
[Sender email]

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Requirement for employee to take annual leave letter template
requirement for employee to take annual leave letter template

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