UP to one in seven workers are missing out on their legal entitlement to paid holidays, partly because of “bad employers” breaking the law, according to a new study.
The TUC estimated that almost 1.7 million employees across the UK are being denied their full holidays.
The biggest number work in arts and entertainment (almost 14 per cent), accommodation and food (12.5 per cent), administration and support services (9.2 per cent) and construction (8 per cent), said the union organisation.
An average of 6.4 per cent of UK workers are losing their holiday rights, although the figure is 9.5 per cent in Northern Ireland, 7.6 per cent in Wales and 7.5 per cent in London, research discovered.
The lowest figure is in the North East at 5.1 per cent with just behind at Scotland at 5.2 per cent, the analysis of unpublished figures from the Labour Force Survey found.
The TUC said it had become easier for bad employers to deny workers their full holiday pay since fees for taking cases to employment tribunals were introduced two years ago.
TUC general secretary Frances O’Grady said: “As people head off on their holidays, spare a thought for those still stuck at work with bad bosses who break the law by denying staff their full holiday.
“Some employers deliberately stop staff from taking the leave and holiday pay they’re entitled to, whereas other workers lose out from poor management and failure to keep up with the law.
“Workers should not be cheated out of their holidays through illegal and unfair practices by employers.
“We are in danger of seeing a burnout Britain where workers feel pressured to give up their holidays and increase their hours.
“We are worried that David Cameron’s EU renegotiation may take away our statutory holiday entitlements by opting-out of the working time directive. These figures on the number of people missing out on their holiday rights clearly show that the rules need to be strengthened rather than weakened further.”
Meanwhile, Business Minister Nick Boles has named 75 employers who have failed to pay their workers the National Minimum Wage (NMW).
Between them, the named companies owed workers over £153,000 in arrears, and span sectors including hairdressing, fashion, publishing, hospitality, health and fitness, automotive, social care, and retail.
This brings the total number of companies named and shamed under the scheme, which was introduced in October 2013, to 285 employers, with total arrears of over £788,000 and total penalties of over £325,000.
Boles said: “As a one-nation government on the side of working people we are determined that everyone who is entitled to the National Minimum Wage receives it. When the new National Living Wage is introduced next April we will enforce it robustly. This means that the hard-working people of the UK will get the pay rise they deserve.”
“From October the National Minimum Wage will increase to £6.70. Employers should be well aware of the different rates for the National Minimum Wage depending on the circumstances of their workers.
“Employers and workers can call the Acas helpline or visit gov.uk if they need information about the NMW.”
To improve compliance in the hairdressing sector HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) has launched a NMW campaign to drive voluntary behavioural change. The campaign is an opportunity for employers to check they are paying their employees correctly and ensure any outstanding arrears are paid.
The 75 cases named yesterday were thoroughly investigated by HMRC.
The naming and shaming scheme was revised in October 2013 to make it simpler to name and shame employers that do not comply with minimum wage rules.
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