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Annual Leave 2026


Please note:  This process is for NWSSP employees only.


  Purchase Request Dates

Opens: 2nd February 2026

Closes: 27th February 2026

ESR balances - Updated allowances will show on ESR in April 2026

 

Carry Over Dates

Opens: 2nd March 2026

Closes: 31st March 2026

ESR balances - Updated allowances will show on ESR in May 2026


 

Eligibility

  • Applies to all Agenda for Change colleagues only.
  • Purchase requests must not reduce salary below the national minimum wage.

Annual Leave Purchase Process

  • You can apply to purchase one working week (maximum of 37.5 hours). Applications must be made via the Microsoft form that will be shared when the window has opened.
  • All purchase requests will require Manager and then Director approval.
  • NWSSP welcomes all applications, and an assessment process is in place to review all applications to ensure that national minimum wage rates are maintained.
  • Guidance on the Government website and from the HMRC confirms that the purchase of additional annual leave, must not reduce an employee’s salary earnings below the national minimum wage, therefore there may be some employees who will not be eligible for the scheme.
  • If approved, colleagues will see these deductions commence from their April 2026 payslips
  • If declined, colleagues will be notified by the end of March 2026.
  • Colleagues who wish to purchase annual leave outside of this application window, can apply to do so in exceptional circumstances with Director approval. Please refer to the policy for further details.

 

Annual Leave Carry Over Process

  • Employees can carry over up to one working week (maximum 37.5 hours pro rata) and this does not require managerial approval. This carry forward must be requested via a Microsoft form that will be shared when the application window has opened.
  • In all circumstances the carry over form request must still be completed – this is not an automatic process.
  • In exceptional circumstances, you can ask to carry forward one additional working week (maximum 37.5 hours pro rata), this will require Service Director sign off in all cases.
  • There is a minimum threshold of ½ a day (3.75 hours pro rata) colleagues can carry over to reduce the processing of negligible balances. Balances below this should be agreed to be taken locally between employees and their line managers and will not be processed via ESR.

 

Example.

Full time contracted hours 37.5 hours per week can purchase or carry over up to 37.5 hours.

Part time hours 18.75 hours per week can carry over up to 18.75 hours

 

  • Manager to complete the form on individual’s behalf.
  • As per the Managing Attendance at Work Policy during long term sickness meetings managers should be encouraging and agreeing employees utilise their annual leave to be paid.
  • Only the statutory amount of annual leave can be carried forward, up to 20 days pro rata for part time.   
  • Does not need Director sign off.

  • Manager to complete the form on individual’s behalf
  • Manager check ESR balance and maternity application form to ensure correct number of hours to carry over
  • Does not need Director sign off

Useful Links

Annual Leave - Carry Over & Purchase FAQ's

Remember, your balance is shown in hours not days, if this is still incorrect, you can contact our ESR team – eAteb@wales.nhs.uk  

You can view this in my absence – entitlement balances in ESR.

Yes, but only if they fall on your working day.

Yes, Bank holidays are automatically included in your entitlement balance and should be booked off if they fall on a working day.

• First, please contact your Divisional Service Contacts to confirm that the correct hours were submitted and received.
• They will then liaise with People & OD to check the details and advise you of the next steps required.

Carry over balance will show on ESR in May 2026.

Purchased leave balance will show in April 2026.

No, purchasing annual leave will not affect your pension.

The calculation is based on the hourly rate as at the time of application and will not be retrospectively amended.

This will have no impact to the hours purchased or the deduction amount. The calculation is based on the hourly rate as at the time of application and will not be amended.

There is no provision to transfer the purchased leave to another NHS Organisation so you would need to reapply in the new role.

Your manager will need to report the balance of annual leave remaining or outstanding to Payroll. If there is a positive balance, which includes any the purchased leave, you will need to agree with your manager to take the leave if possible or be paid any remaining balance in your final payslip. If there is a negative balance this will deducted from your final payslip. An annual leave calculator is available for managers and employees.

All applications will be assessed to ensure that employees do not fall below the National Minimum Wage (NMW) once the deduction for purchased leave (and any other relevant deductions from pay) are considered. IF an employee falls below the NMW then the application will be rejected.