If you have outstanding annual leave, now is the time to think about when you will use it. It's important to book time off, as taking regular leave helps to reduce stress, improve mood and an overall sense of wellbeing.
Where possible, you should arrange with your manager to take your remaining leave before the end of March.
To book your annual leave or carry forward leave and check your leave balance, go to ESS Lite and select 'My leave requests'. For more information on booking leave and the annual leave and time off policy, make sure to read the online guidance first.
For Managers: Carrying forward leave
Where it has not been operationally possible for a member of your team to take all their leave, you may arrange to carry forward leave into the next year. Please make sure you check the annual leave policy first, as there are usually restrictions on how much leave can be carried forward and the circumstances in which this is allowed.
Once agreed, the carried‑forward entitlement is simple to set up, and it will appear as a new line in the employee’s overall quota screen the next time, they book leave. Any leave taken will automatically be deducted from the carried‑forward balance first, before reducing the new leave year’s quota.
Have a question?
If you have checked the guidance pages and you are still unsure, try using webchat. If you access web chat via the icon found on annual leave guidance pages, you will reach a specialist advisor who can assist you specifically on annual leave. Webchat is our quickest way to get help, just look out for the orange icon.