All employees may apply to purchase the equivalent of a contractual working week as Additional Purchased Leave, to be taken during the annual leave year 2025-26. It is not possible to purchase only part of the contractual week.
The cost of buying this Additional Purchased Leave will be calculated based on 5 / 260ths of annual salary. This value will be spread into 12 equal payments and deducted monthly throughout the annual leave year. The deductions will begin in April 2025 and the final deduction will be made in March 2026.
Your application:
As part of your application, you will need to discuss with your line manager the reason for your application and let them know how much annual leave, flexi (if applicable), and TOIL balances you anticipate carrying forward from the current leave year, into the leave year 2025-26. When considering your application your manager will consider the operational feasibility, to ensure the service can support and cover additional leave. Some service areas will be unable to support such an application. As this is a discretionary policy there is no grievance or appeal mechanism should an application be rejected. Any applications received without the approval of your line manager will not be processed.
Approved applications must be received in HR by Friday 28th March 2025.
If your request is approved:
Approved Additional Purchased Leave will be added to your ‘leave overview’ in Fiori where you view your annual leave balance. This will be uploaded on Fiori in March 2025 ready for the new leave year. Annual Leave will be deducted from your Additional Purchased Leave before your normal annual leave entitlement for that year, but after any leave you have carried forward.
Once purchased, you commit to paying the total amount for the additional purchased leave, therefore if you leave part way through the leave year any outstanding balance will be deducted from your final salary in a lump sum. For example, if your last day of service is 30th November you will have already paid 7 monthly payments, and the final 5 monthly payments will be deducted from your final salary.
For further information, please read the Council’s Annual Leave policy.