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Wednesday, 3 October 2023

Agricultural workers’ holiday pay

All agricultural workers except trainees are entitled to holiday pay for their holiday or 'annual' leave. How much you are paid depends on what your normal pay is. Find out how to calculate your holiday pay.

Holiday pay - basic calculations

If your basic pay is the same every week (apart from payments for overtime which is not guaranteed) you can use the following steps to work out your holiday pay.

Step one: work out how much you are paid under your employment contract each week before tax and other deductions ('your gross contractual weekly pay')

Step two: divide that by the number of days you work each week

This gives you your daily holiday pay.

Holiday pay - calculations for changing work patterns

If your weekly basic pay varies, you should average your gross contractual weekly pay over 12 weeks. Your gross pay is your pay before any deductions, for example tax and National Insurance.

If you have worked less than 12 weeks, average your pay over the number of weeks you have worked. You should not include overtime in your calculation, unless it is guaranteed overtime.

Step one: add up your contractual gross weekly pay during the 12 week period (or the actual number of weeks worked if less) immediately before your holiday started

Step two: divide that figure by 12 (or by the actual number of weeks worked), this gives you your average weekly pay

Step three: divide the average weekly pay from step two by the number of days worked each week

This gives you your daily holiday pay.

Taking part day's holiday

If you are only taking part of a day off, you are entitled to the same percentage of pay. For example, if you are taking half a day’s leave, then you are entitled to half a day’s holiday pay.

Where to get help

If you need further advice on your rights as an agricultural worker you can contact the Pay and Work Rights helpline by completing their online enquiry form.

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