Overview
Annual leave entitlement
Your annual leave entitlement depends on your job role and any other contractual agreements you have with us - check your contract (on BambooHR) to see your entitlement.
The holiday year runs from 1st January to 31st December. Although we reset holiday allowances on 1st January, in exceptional circumstances you may be able to take some unused annual leave in the following year - see below for details.
Birthday day off
In addition to your annual leave entitlement, you get your birthday (or the nearest workday) off! We’ll automatically add this to your WhosOff account when you start with us.
Unfortunately, GPs don’t get an additional birthday day off, but you can always use your annual leave to take your birthday off instead.
Unused annual leave
Please try to use up all of your leave allowance throughout each year! It’s good for you to make sure that you take regular breaks, and it helps us to be able to cover your absence.
If you don’t use all of your annual leave throughout the year, we cannot guarantee that you can take this into the next holiday year, and no payment in lieu will be made. In exceptional circumstances, we may give you up to one working week of annual leave in the following holiday year, which must be used by 30th June in that year.
How to book time off
Best practice for booking
Here are some rules of thumb for booking time off:
- Non-clinical staff - ideally give at least 4 weeks notice if you want to take time off
- Clinical staff - ideally give at least 6 weeks notice if you want to take time off
- GPs - ideally give at least 8 weeks notice if you want to take time off
- Generally, you can take a maximum of 2 weeks holiday at any one time
Last minute requests
Any last minute requests for time off (i.e. less than the above stated notice) cannot be requested via WhosOff. To make a last minute leave request:
- Non-clinical staff - speak to your Line Manager
- Clinical staff & GPs - submit a Last Minute Leave Requests form to the Rota Team
If your Line Manager or the Rota Team agree to your taking time off, they will add this onto WhosOff for you.
NB. Please wait to book holidays / take time off until your leave has been approved or added on WhosOff. If your leave is not approved for any reason, you will be liable for lost costs.
This makes up part of your contractual terms and conditions.
Caring for colleagues
If too many people take time off at the same time, it puts unnecessary pressure on other members of the team that are working, as well as on our patients! We can look after each other by being mindful of when other people have already booked time off, and if you can, being flexible to work around those dates. We understand that this may be difficult around times such as school and other holidays - try to be considerate of your colleagues, and have a chat with your Line Manager if you have any concerns.