Do Freelancers Get Holiday Pay?

Whether you’re a freelancer, a business owner, or an employee, understanding the basics of holiday allowance is crucial. This guide looks at the different categories of employment in the UK, including full-time and part-time employees, temporary workers, freelancers, contractors, and those on PAYE or zero-hours contracts, to clarify what summer holidays mean for pay.

Holiday allowance in the UK is governed by several laws and regulations that may apply differently to various types of workers. Almost all people classed as workers are legally entitled to 5.6 weeks’ paid holiday a year. Here’s a general breakdown: .

🟩 Full-time & Part-time Employees: Full-time employees working 5 days a week are entitled to a minimum of 28 days paid annual leave, or 5.6 weeks, per year, including bank holidays. Part-time employees have a pro-rata entitlement.

🟩 Temporary Workers & Agency Workers: Temporary and agency workers also have the right to 5.6 weeks of paid holiday. Some agencies include holiday pay as part of their hourly rate, but this practice is not in line with the Working Time Regulations 1998.

🟩 Freelancers & Contractors (not classified as a worker): So, do freelancers get holiday pay? Freelancers and contractors are generally considered self-employed, and they don’t have statutory rights to paid annual leave like employees and workers do. Therefore, any holiday taken would be unpaid unless otherwise stipulated in the contract with their client.

🟩 PAYE Contractors: PAYE contractors are treated as employees for tax purposes, so they are also entitled to the minimum of 5.6 weeks of paid leave per year, assuming they are working full time.

🟩 Zero-Hours Contracts: Individuals on zero-hours contracts are entitled to statutory annual leave like other workers. The amount is usually calculated as 12.07% of hours worked.

At Handle Freelance Solutions, we help creative businesses simplify the onboarding, payroll and compliance of their directly sourced freelancers and temporary workers. If you’re looking to create a positive freelance experience by overcoming onboarding and payment challenges, please get in touch!

Please note that all these are general guidelines, and the specific entitlement may vary depending on the contract and the specific circumstances of the work.