Zero-Hours Holiday Pay
Updated November 2026 · Free · No sign-up
Calculate zero-hours holiday pay — for leave years from April 2024 the law restored 12.07% accrual for irregular-hours and part-year workers, and legalized rolled-up holiday pay at 12.07% on each payslip.
Quick answer: Irregular-hours/part-year workers accrue 12.07% of hours worked as holiday (the post-Brexit fix reversing Harpur v Brazel), and employers may pay rolled-up holiday pay: 12.07% on top of each payslip, itemized. 100 hours worked → 12.07 holiday hours (or the 12.07% uplift paid as you go).
The Post-2024 Regime
For leave years starting 1 April 2024+, the Working Time Regulations amendments created a dedicated scheme for irregular-hours and part-year workers:
| Accrual | 12.07% of hours worked in each pay period (capped at 28 days’ equivalent) — the maths: 5.6 weeks ÷ 46.4 working weeks |
| Rolled-up option | Employers MAY pay 12.07% on top of each payslip instead of paid leave — lawful again, must be itemized separately |
| Rate when taking leave | The 52-week average of weeks actually worked (ignoring zero weeks, looking back up to 104) |
| Who counts as irregular | Contractual hours wholly/mostly variable — true zero-hours, casuals, many agency staff |
Worked Examples
Example 1 — accrual. 100 hours in a month at £13.50: accrue 12.07 hours of leave (~£163 of value when taken).
Example 2 — rolled-up. Same month: payslip shows £1,350 + £163 rolled-up holiday pay, separately itemized; taking time off is then unpaid. Unitemized "the rate includes holiday" remains unlawful.
Example 3 — the Brazel echo. Term-time staff (part-year, regular weeks) were briefly entitled to the un-prorated 5.6 weeks — the 2024 rules restored proration for NEW leave years; historic claims under the old law still run their course.
Audit Points
Is your holiday line itemized? Is 12.07% applied to TOTAL pay (including overtime and commission — it must be)? Pre-April-2024 leave years follow the old rules — back-claims for unpaid/underpaid holiday reach back through unlawful-deduction chains (2-year backstop). Regular-hours workers stay on the classic 5.6-week scheme.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does zero-hours holiday accrue now?
12.07% of hours worked per pay period for irregular-hours/part-year workers, for leave years from April 2024 — up to the 5.6-week equivalent.
Is rolled-up holiday pay legal?
Yes again — for irregular/part-year workers, 12.07% paid on top of each payslip, itemized separately; hidden "inclusive rates" remain unlawful.
What rate applies when I take leave?
A 52-week average of weeks you actually worked (zero weeks skipped, window up to 104 weeks back) — including overtime and commission patterns.
Where does 12.07% come from?
5.6 weeks’ statutory leave ÷ 46.4 working weeks = 12.07% — the accrual equivalent of the full-timer entitlement.
Can I claim historic underpayment?
Unlawful-deduction claims chain back up to 2 years (3-month tribunal deadline from the last deduction) — unitemized or missing holiday pay is the classic claim.
✓ Formula verified • Last updated: November 3, 2026