Leave HackerGuidesPlan my yearCan I be paid instead of taking my holiday?
Only when you leave
Not for your 5.6 weeks of statutory leave while you're still in the job: the only time it can be paid instead of taken (“payment in lieu”) is when you leave. If your employer gives more than 5.6 weeks, they can agree separate arrangements for the extra days, such as buying or selling them.
Why
Statutory holiday is there so you rest. That's also why you can't be paid instead of a bank holiday you work, unless it's leave still owed when you leave.
What you can do instead
- Check your contract for the extra days. Some schemes let you buy or sell leave above the legal minimum.
- Ask about carrying it over, if your contract allows up to 8 days. Carrying over leave.
- Use it well. A few days next to bank holidays go a long way: four days at Easter 2027 buy ten off. How to get the most days off.
- Leaving? Your employer must pay you for statutory leave you've built up and not taken, even if you're dismissed for gross misconduct. Holiday when you leave.
Sources
- gov.uk: Taking holiday before leaving a job
- Acas: Bank holidays and Christmas
- Acas: Holidays and final pay
Checked on 26 October 2026. This is general information about the legal minimum in the UK, not legal advice: your contract can give you more, and can set its own rules for notice and carrying over. For help with your own situation, call the Acas helpline on 0300 123 1100 (England, Scotland and Wales) or the Labour Relations Agency on 03300 555 300 (Northern Ireland).
More questions
Can I sell my holiday back to my employer?
Not the statutory 5.6 weeks. Any extra leave in your contract can have its own rules, so ask HR.