Calculate holiday entitlement and pay for zero hours contract workers. Zero hours workers accrue 5.6 weeks annual leave based on hours worked.
Zero Hours Holiday Pay Calculator UK 2025/26
Holiday Entitlement
Zero Hours Holiday Rights
Zero hours workers are entitled to 5.6 weeks statutory annual leave per year (same as all workers). For irregular hours, holiday pay is calculated using a 52-week reference period or the 12.07% method.
From April 2024, rolled-up holiday pay is legal again for irregular hours workers — meaning employers can pay 12.07% extra on each payslip instead of paying holiday separately.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do zero hours workers get holiday pay?
Yes — all workers, including zero hours workers, are entitled to 5.6 weeks statutory annual leave per year (28 days including bank holidays for full-time equivalent).
What is the 12.07% holiday calculation method?
12.07% represents 5.6 weeks as a fraction of the remaining 46.4 working weeks (5.6 ÷ 46.4 = 12.07%). Multiply total hours worked by 12.07% to get holiday hours accrued.
Is the 12.07% method still valid after 2024?
Yes — following the Supreme Court ruling in Harpur Trust v Brazel (2022) and subsequent legislative changes, the 52-week reference period is the primary method. However, rolled-up holiday pay (12.07% on each payslip) was legalised again from 1 January 2024.
What is rolled-up holiday pay?
Rolled-up holiday pay means the employer pays 12.07% extra on each payslip to cover holiday pay, rather than paying separately when holiday is taken. It is now legal for irregular hours workers from 1 January 2024.
What is the 52-week reference period?
For calculating holiday pay, employers look at the last 52 weeks in which pay was earned. Weeks where no pay was received are excluded and replaced with earlier weeks (up to 104 weeks back).
Can I take holiday on a zero hours contract?
Yes — you can request holiday like any worker. The employer can refuse specific dates but cannot prevent you from taking 5.6 weeks total leave per year.
What if my employer refuses to pay holiday pay?
You can raise a grievance, complain to ACAS, or bring a tribunal claim (3-month time limit). HMRC also has a holiday pay non-compliance helpline.
Does holiday accrue during sick leave on zero hours?
Workers continue to accrue holiday during sick leave. However, zero hours workers may have limited holiday accrual during periods of no work if genuinely no contract exists.
What counts as a week's pay for holiday purposes?
A week's pay is based on average earnings over the 52-week reference period. It includes regular overtime and commission but not genuinely voluntary overtime that is irregular.
Are bank holidays included in zero hours holiday entitlement?
The 5.6 weeks (28 days for full-time) includes bank holidays. Part-time and zero hours workers get a pro-rata entitlement based on hours worked.
Can I carry over unused holiday on zero hours?
Workers can carry over up to 4 weeks if employer agreement prevents taking leave, or if on family leave or sick leave. At end of contract, untaken holiday must be paid out.
What is the minimum wage for zero hours workers?
The National Living Wage (£12.21/hour for 21+ in April 2025) applies to all hours worked, including zero hours workers. There is no lower rate for irregular hours.