The latest research from the Global Payroll Alliance (GPA) reveals that over half of UK office workers are planning to take time off this summer, with good weather and school holidays topping the list of reasons.
GPA’s new survey of UK office workers reveals that 56% commonly take time off work during the peak summer months (July to August), and a further 20% say they occasionally choose to take time off during this period.
The most common reasons for taking time off during July and August are to take advantage of the good weather (26%) and to coincide with the school summer holidays (25%).
The good news is that the vast majority of employers appear to be highly accommodating to their staff’s summer holiday requests.
88% of respondents who have asked for peak summer time off this year say they have been granted all of the days off they requested. A further 9% have been granted at least some of the days off they requested, leaving only 3% who have been denied leave.
It seems the most common reason given by employers for not being able to grant all of the summer time off their employees were hoping for, is that too many colleagues have already booked time off at the same time (20%), proving that if you want to take time off during the peak summer months, you need to get your request in as early as possible.
All in all, people feel like their employers handle summer leave requests well, with three quarters (74%) saying their bosses handle the subject fairly and transparently, and a further 14% saying their bosses handle it ‘somewhat’ fairly and transparently.
Melanie Pizzey, CEO and Founder of the Global Payroll Alliance, says:
“Managing annual leave during peak summer months is always a delicate balance between supporting employee wellbeing and maintaining business continuity.
What this research shows is that transparency, fairness, and proactive planning are key. Employers must ensure that HR and payroll teams are fully in the loop so that time-off decisions are well-communicated, compliant, and operationally sound.
It’s not just about granting leave, it’s about building a workplace culture where employees feel valued, while the business remains resilient and prepared.”
Survey results
