Annual Leave

At Handcrafted, you are entitled to take annual leave as part of your employment contract. Here you will find guidelines for requesting and managing annual leave:

Leave Entitlement

As a Handcrafted staff member, you are entitled to a specified number of days of annual leave per year as outlined in your contract. This is usually 25 days per year (pro-rata for part-time employees) plus the eight statutory bank holidays.
The holiday year begins on your employment start date.

Requesting Annual Leave

Requests for annual leave should be made as early as possible. A general guideline is to give notice at least twice the length of the time you are requesting. For example, if you are requesting one week of leave, provide two weeks' notice.
All leave requests must be submitted through the AirTable form for approval. Ensure that you have your Line Manager's approval before finalising any holiday plans.
We recommend you do not book any flights/holidays before approval is given. It saves debate later on if leave cannot be granted.
When planning your leave, consider the impact on your team and ensure that there is adequate coverage during your absence.
It is advisable to discuss your plans with your team and Line Manager well in advance to avoid any disruptions.

Carrying Over Leave

Handcrafted's policy on carrying over unused leave to the next year will be outlined in your contract or discussed with your Line Manager. Generally, any leave not taken within the year may be forfeited unless agreed otherwise.

Different types of leave

In addition to annual leave, which is planned leave that must be requested and approved in advance. The following types of leave may apply.

Sick Leave: Time off due to illness, following the Sickness and Absence procedures
Paternity/Maternity/Adoption Leave: Leave for the birth or adoption of a child, in line with legal entitlements.
Time Off In Lieu (TOIL): Time off granted for additional hours worked, following the procedures outlined in Working Hours Expectations
Compassionate Leave: Leave granted for personal emergencies, assessed on a case-by-case basis.