Guides

Your rights at work: holiday, payslips and deductions

Applies in England, Scotland and Wales · Checked against the sources on 7 November 2026

Holiday

• Almost all workers are entitled to 5.6 weeks' paid holiday a year.
• If you work a 5-day week, that's at least 28 days.
• The legal minimum stops at 28 days, so someone working 6 days a week also gets 28 days.
• Part-time workers with regular hours get 5.6 weeks too, which comes to fewer than 28 days.
• Bank holidays don't have to be given as paid leave. Your employer can choose to count them as part of your 28 days.
• Your contract can give you more than the legal minimum, but not less.

Payslips

If you're an employee or a worker, your employer must give you a payslip on or before payday. It must show:

• your earnings before and after any deductions;
• any deductions that may change each time you're paid, such as tax and National Insurance;
• the hours you worked, if your pay depends on the time you work.

This doesn't apply if you're self-employed, for example as a contractor or freelancer.

Money taken from your wages

Your employer can only make a deduction when:

• the law requires or allows it, such as income tax, National Insurance or student loan repayments;
• you've agreed in writing;
• your contract says they can;
• there's a statutory payment due to a public authority;
• you didn't work because you took part in a strike or other industrial action;
• you were overpaid wages or expenses before;
• a court has told your employer to take debt payments.

If you think something's wrong, Acas gives free, confidential advice about problems at work.

Sources

• GOV.UK: Holiday entitlement
• GOV.UK: Payslips: employee rights
• GOV.UK: Understanding your pay: deductions from your pay
• Acas

Northern Ireland has its own employment rules: see nidirect. This is general information, not legal, financial or tax advice. For help with your own situation, a free adviser such as Citizens Advice can help.