Did you know that the UK’s statutory holiday entitlement is increasing to 24 days on 1st October, and then 28 days a year after that? Because I sure as hell didn’t. For the majority of people in the UK, that’s an extra eight days holiday every year. Another eight 3-day weekends, or almost two whole extra weeks off.
Of course, even at 28 days holiday per year, we’re still at the bottom of the pile in the EU, but that’s to be expected, really. It sounds as if we may be getting an extra bank holiday or two anyway, so it’s all good news.
Clearly I should buy shares in travel, leisure and holiday companies.
mssv 
Great news! Thanks for telling me (us!) about it. Why on earth hasn’t it been all over the papers though?!
I have no idea. Perhaps they (wrongly) think everyone knows already. Certainly the government isn’t making a big deal about it, probably because it’d be seen as being anti-business or something.
I wonder if businesses are telling their employees about this. It’s possible that they just don’t know either, but perhaps they’re keeping quiet in the hope that no-one will notice.
Fabulous news. My number one bugbear is not having enough holiday – thanks for letting us know!
Having researched further, it looks like this is only applicable to people who have 20 days holiday including Bank Holidays, which is the absolute statutory minimum. So if, like me, you get Bank Holidays off but only get 20 days actual holiday, you will remain unaffected. Bugger.
Sadly, you’re correct. As another blog comments, this mainly affects those who normally had to work on bank holidays: http://www.bl0g.co.uk/070622/New_UK_Holiday_Entitlement_Extra_Holidays/
I suspect that many employers will not choose to see bank holidays as extra time, and instead include them in the 28 days (whereas before they *were* extra). Personally though, I don’t think people get enough holiday as it is and 20 days isn’t quite enough. More holiday would improve morale and productivity, reduce sickies, etc. especially in creative industries. Perhaps this change may provide extra impetus to more enlightened companies and also make employees badger their bosses to not include bank holidays in the 28 days.