UK employment-law guide

Holiday pay for irregular-hours and part-year workers

Irregular-hours and part-year workers accrue holiday at 12.07% of the hours they actually work — and you can pay it rolled-up, itemised on the payslip.

  • Accrual is 12.07% of hours worked (5.6 weeks ÷ 46.4 working weeks).
  • Average weekly pay uses the 52-week reference period, skipping unpaid weeks.
  • Rolled-up holiday pay must be shown as a separate line.
  • WardHR calculates the balance and uplift and retains the signed record.

Common questions

How much holiday does an irregular-hours worker accrue?

Holiday accrues at 12.07% of the hours actually worked in each pay period (5.6 weeks divided by 46.4 working weeks).

Is rolled-up holiday pay legal in the UK?

Yes, for irregular-hours and part-year workers — provided the uplift is shown as a separate, itemised line on the payslip.

How do I work out a week’s pay for holiday purposes?

Use the 52-week reference period of average weekly pay, skipping weeks with no pay, looking back up to 104 weeks.

Get this right automatically

WardHR computes the figures from current UK statutory rates, keeps a signed, retained record, and grounds every answer in cited law. It’s provided through your insurer or accountant — start free.

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More guides: Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) in 2026: the new day-one rules · Day-one unfair dismissal rights: what small employers must change · Neonatal care leave and pay: the day-one right explained · Right-to-work checks for small employers: a practical guide

General guidance, not legal advice — the employer remains responsible. WardHR assists against current UK law.