A part time worker was left shocked after discovering her employer owed her £12,000 in unpaid holiday entitlement.
Joanne, aged 59, said she was stunned when her employer’s HR department confirmed the money was due to her.
Her case was highlighted by MoneySavingExpert.com as an example of how workers with irregular hours may be missing out on holiday pay.
Joanne said she had never checked whether she qualified for paid annual leave, believing her working pattern meant she was not entitled to the same benefits as full time staff.
That assumption turned out to be incorrect, and MoneySavingExpert said the oversight had cost her thousands of pounds over several years.
The website shared her story to raise awareness among part time and casual workers across Britain. Joanne spent most of her career working full time in financial services before leaving her role in 2021.
She continued working on a casual basis and returned to the company in 2023 in a part time role, typically averaging around 25 hours a week.
Her hours varied from week to week, and she said she never considered whether holiday pay applied to her.
Martin Lewis’s website helps fan claim £12,000 in missed entitlements
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GETTY/BBC
The £12,000 payment was made in Joanne’s December pay packet, and the timing proved significant for her personal circumstances.
Earlier in the year she had been diagnosed with severe arthritis, which caused ongoing pain and disrupted her sleep.
Facing long NHS waiting lists, she chose to pursue private treatment and paid for a hip replacement using her retirement savings. The unexpected holiday pay provided financial relief.
Joanne told MoneySavingExpert, “It was an absolute godsend as I had been diagnosed as having severe arthritis earlier in the year.” She added that she could not face the long waiting times in her area due to the pain she was experiencing.
Most workers in the UK are legally entitled to paid annual leave
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GETTYMoneySavingExpert said most workers in the UK are legally entitled to paid annual leave.
The statutory minimum entitlement is 5.6 weeks per year, including bank holidays, and applies to full time, part time, temporary and seasonal workers, as well as those with irregular or variable hours.
The website said anyone who receives payslips is likely to be entitled to holiday pay and advised workers to check their employment contract for confirmation.
For part time staff, holiday entitlement is calculated on a pro rata basis. Workers can multiply the number of days worked per week by 5.6 to determine their annual entitlement.
Workers who believe they are owed holiday pay are advised to contact their employer
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JET2Bank holidays may be included within this figure or added separately depending on the contract.
Workers who believe they are owed holiday pay are advised to contact their employer, either to take the leave they are entitled to or to request payment for unused holiday.
If an employer refuses, MoneySavingExpert said workers should raise a formal grievance using internal procedures.
As a last resort, they can take their case to an employment tribunal, although the website urged workers to gather all relevant information and consider contacting Acas or Citizens Advice for free guidance before proceeding.
MoneySavingExpert said Joanne’s case showed how important it is for workers to understand their rights and warned that many people could be missing out on holiday pay without realising it.