Holiday Record-Keeping – New Employer Duty from April 2026
From 6 April 2026, employers are required to keep detailed records of annual leave and holiday pay under new legislation. While many businesses already track this information, the key change is that record-keeping will now be a legal requirement, not just good practice.
What’s changing?
- From April 2026, employers must maintain adequate records to demonstrate compliance with statutory holiday entitlement.
- Records should include leave taken, accrual, carry-over and how holiday pay has been calculated.
- The requirement applies to all workers, including those with irregular hours or part-year contracts.
- Records must be retained for at least six years and be accessible if requested.
- This forms part of wider reforms under the Employment Rights Act, strengthening enforcement and compliance obligations.
What does this mean for you?
- Review your current holiday tracking and payroll systems to ensure they capture the required data.
- Ensure records are complete, accurate and consistently maintained across your workforce.
- Train staff responsible for payroll and HR to understand the new requirements.
- Identify and address any gaps in your current processes.
If you would like support reviewing your systems or preparing for these changes, please get in touch with our Payroll Manager, Dianne Bradshaw.
