How to maximise your annual leave in 2021
It may not be the worst thing to happen in 2020, but the fact that international travel was all over the place this year probably meant you had holiday plans scuppered. Thanks to flight bans and lockdowns, many of us missed out on vacations and weekends away - something which we hope to rectify in 2021.
One way of doing that is to make sure you maximise your annual leave in 2021, by strategically taking days off around the existing bank holidays. By booking time off in line with public holidays, you can end up getting a lot of time away from your usual routine, for minimal days off your allowance. Sounds like a dream.
So, when are the 2021 bank holidays, and how can you maximise your annual leave?
Book off three days at Christmas for 10 days off
Thanks to the way Christmas falls this year, you only have to take three days off to be work-free from 25th December to 3rd January 2021. Boxing Day falls on a weekend this year, meaning 27th December becomes a bank holiday - if you book off 29th, 30th and 31st, you won't be back in the office until the 3rd January.
Book off: 29th, 30th, 31st December
Bank holiday: 25th, 28th of December and 1st January
Your holiday: 24th December to 4th January
Take four days at Easter for 10 days off
The four day weekend in April is always bliss, and this year falls between the 6th - 9th. To extend your annual leave to a 10 day break, take four days between 2nd and 5th - making your break the 2nd to the 11th April. Bliss
Book off: 6th, 7th, 8th April
Bank holiday: 2nd and 5th April
Your holiday: 2nd to 11th April
Take eight days in May for 2 x nine days in a row off
The May bank holidays are a funny one, because while they're not near each other, you do have the potential for a LOT of time off. All you need to do is book eight days off, for eighteen days out of the office. Sounds dreamy, huh? For the first week, take 4th - 7th May off after the 3rd May bank holiday, for nine days in a row off. For the second bit of annual leave, book the 1st - 4th June out of office, following the 31st May bank holiday. That's a lot of sunbathing.
Book off: 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th of May
Bank holiday: 3rd May
Your holiday: 1st May to the 9th May
Book off: 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th June
Bank Holiday: 31st May
Your Holiday: 29th May to 6th June
Take four days in September for nine days off
Get some late summer sun in after the August bank holiday by booking four days off, and extending your trip over the two weekends. You won't regret it!
Book off: 31st August and 1st, 2nd, 3rd September
Bank holiday: 30th August
Your holiday: 28th August to 5th September
Take three days in December for nine days off
If you're planning ahead, you'll need to take three working days off in December to be clear for the whole festive season. Book 29th, 30th and 31st as annual leave, and you'll be out of the office from 24th December until 3rd January. Nice!
Book off: 29th, 30th, 31st December
Bank holidays: 27th, 28th December
Your holiday: 25th December - 3rd January
Consider your annual leave doubled.
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