Holiday Accrual on Maternity, Paternity & Family Leave
Holiday continues to accrue at the contractual rate throughout family leave — many people don't realise this.
The rule
Under UK law, paid annual leave continues to accrue while a worker is on:
- Statutory maternity leave (up to 52 weeks).
- Statutory paternity leave.
- Statutory adoption leave (up to 52 weeks).
- Shared parental leave.
- Parental bereavement leave.
Accrual is at the contractualrate, not just the statutory minimum. If your contract gives 30 days a year, you accrue 30 days a year — whether you're at work or on family leave.
How it's taken
Holiday cannot be taken at the same time as maternity, paternity, or adoption leave — the two are mutually exclusive. Most employers schedule accrued holiday immediately before or after the family leave so that the worker receives full pay for the holiday days rather than statutory family pay (which is lower).
Carrying holiday into the next leave year is normal in this situation. The statutory four-week portion can be carried for up to 18 months following the end of the leave year in which it accrued.
What this means in practice
A worker on 28 days a year who takes a full 52-week maternity leave accrues all 28 days during the leave period. On return, they can take that 28 days at the normal contractual pay rate — which is usually a significant boost compared with statutory maternity pay.
Employers can require the leave to be taken within a reasonable window of return, but cannot refuse it altogether or pay it in lieu.
Frequently asked questions
Do I accrue holiday during maternity leave?+
Yes. Statutory and contractual holiday continue to accrue at the normal rate throughout maternity, paternity, adoption, and shared parental leave. You can take the leave on return.
Can I take holiday and maternity leave at the same time?+
No. Maternity leave and annual leave run separately. Most employers schedule accrued holiday immediately before or after the maternity leave period so the worker is paid at the normal rate rather than at the statutory maternity pay rate.