Pay & Benefits · UK 2026

How much time off can I take in the UK?

By Alex · 12-year UK recruiter · Updated April 2026

Annual leave. Statutory minimum 5.6 weeks (28 days for full-time including bank holidays). Most UK professional contracts: 25 days + 8 bank holidays = 33 total. Generous: 30+ days + bank holidays = 38+ total.

Parental leave. Maternity 52 weeks (39 paid), Paternity 2 weeks (paid), Shared Parental Leave 50 weeks (37 paid), Adoption Leave 52 weeks (39 paid). All are statutory minimums; many UK employers enhance significantly.

Bereavement leave. Statutory parental bereavement leave (2 weeks, paid) for death of a child under 18. No general statutory bereavement leave for adult relatives — most UK employers offer 3-5 days at discretion.

Jury duty. Statutory time off (unpaid by employer, but Crown Court pays a small daily allowance). Most UK employers top up to full pay during jury service as goodwill.

Emergency dependants leave. Unpaid statutory time off to deal with emergencies involving dependents (children, elderly parents, sudden illness). No fixed limit but should be 'reasonable'.

Sabbaticals. Not statutory. Some UK employers offer 1-12 month paid or unpaid sabbaticals after 5+ years of service. Worth asking about specifically when evaluating offers at long-tenure companies.

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