Annual Leave During Maternity Leave: Holiday Accrual & Your Rights

Do You Accrue Annual Leave During Maternity Leave?

Yes — you continue to accrue annual leave throughout your entire maternity leave, including both paid and unpaid weeks. This is one of the most valuable but often overlooked aspects of your maternity leave rights.

Whether you take 6 months or the full 52 weeks, your holiday entitlement builds up as if you were still at work. For many women, this means returning to work with a substantial bank of unused holiday days.

How Much Holiday Will You Accrue?

The statutory minimum annual leave entitlement in the UK is 5.6 weeks (28 days for a full-time worker). During 52 weeks of maternity leave, you'll accrue your full year's holiday.

Example

If your employer's holiday year runs January to December and your annual entitlement is 28 days:

•You go on maternity leave in March

•You've already taken 5 days of annual leave

•During your maternity leave (March to March), you accrue 28 days

•You return to work with 23 unused days (28 accrued - 5 already taken)

Many employers offer more than the statutory minimum — 25 days plus bank holidays is common. Check your contract or staff handbook.

Using Annual Leave Before Maternity Leave

A popular strategy is to take annual leave immediately before your maternity leave officially starts. This effectively extends your paid time off because:

•Annual leave is paid at your full salary (not SMP rates)

•It delays your maternity leave start date, pushing your paid SMP period later

•You're well-rested before your maternity leave begins

Example Strategy

Instead of starting maternity leave at 36 weeks pregnant:

1.Use 2 weeks of annual leave from week 36

2.Start maternity leave officially at week 38

3.Your SMP now runs 2 weeks later, extending your paid leave

Use our Maternity Leave Planner to work out your optimal dates.

Using Annual Leave After Maternity Leave

Equally, you can use accrued annual leave at the end of your maternity leave. This means:

•You stay off work longer while being paid at full salary

•Your employer is happy because you're using up holiday rather than carrying a large balance

•You get a gradual transition — holiday feels different to maternity leave

Carrying Over Annual Leave

Normally, annual leave must be used within the holiday year. But what if your maternity leave spans two holiday years?

The law says you must be allowed to carry over annual leave that you couldn't take because of maternity leave. Your employer should allow you to carry over any untaken holiday to the following year. This is your legal right — not a discretionary benefit.

However, speak to your employer about their policy. Some employers require you to take carried-over leave within a certain period after returning. It's best to agree this in advance.

Bank Holidays During Maternity Leave

You also continue to accrue bank holiday entitlement during maternity leave. With 8 bank holidays per year in England and Wales, this can add significant extra days. Check whether your employer:

•Adds bank holidays to your annual leave balance automatically

•Requires you to take bank holidays as part of your 28-day statutory entitlement

•Offers additional days in lieu for bank holidays during maternity leave

Tips for Managing Annual Leave and Maternity Leave

1.Check your holiday year — know when it starts and ends relative to your maternity leave

2.Calculate your accrual — work out exactly how many days you'll build up during leave

3.Agree carry-over arrangements before you go — put it in writing with your employer

4.Consider booking leave before and after maternity leave for maximum time off

5.Don't lose days — ensure your employer records your accrued leave correctly

The Financial Benefit

Strategic use of annual leave can significantly boost your maternity leave income. Here's a comparison for someone on a £30,000 salary:

•1 week of annual leave: £576.92 (full pay)

•1 week of SMP (weeks 7-39): £194.32

•Difference: £392.89 per week

If you can use 4 weeks of annual leave (2 before, 2 after maternity leave), that's approximately £1,571 extra compared to being on flat-rate SMP for those weeks.

For your exact figures, use our Maternity Pay Calculator and Take-Home Pay Calculator.

Your Employer Cannot Refuse

Your employer cannot reduce your annual leave entitlement because you're on maternity leave. If they attempt to do so, this would be discrimination. Similarly, they cannot force you to take annual leave during maternity leave — the two are separate entitlements.

If you encounter any issues with your annual leave during maternity leave, contact ACAS on 0300 123 1100 for free advice.

Related Resources

•Your maternity leave rights

•Financial planning for maternity

•Returning to work after maternity

•Calculate your maternity pay