Leave improved

The Working Time Regulations have been amended to give workers the right to paid annual leave from their first day of employment. The 13-week qualifying period necessary to receive entitlement to paid annual leave has been dropped and workers have a corresponding right to compensation for any untaken leave at the end of their of employment.

The regulations will also allow employers to introduce an accrual system to help manage the taking of leave over the first year of employment.

The changes were forced on the government by broadcast union BECTU, who took a case against it to the European Court of Justice. They will benefit the many BECTU members and others who are employed on a succession of short-term contracts.