Carry-Over
Also known as: carryover, rollover, leave carry forward
Carry-over is leave left unused at the end of a leave year that an employee is allowed to roll into the next year, often subject to a cap and expiry.
Carry-over (or rollover) is the practice of letting employees move unused leave from one leave year into the next instead of losing it. Policies usually cap the number of carried days and set an expiry date by which the carried leave must be used.
Carry-over rules balance flexibility for employees against the employer's need to limit liability and encourage people to take rest. Getting them right requires tracking which days are 'old' carry-over (and may expire sooner) versus the current year's fresh entitlement.
Carry-over caps and expiry
A typical rule might allow up to 5 days to carry over, expiring on 31 March of the new leave year. Some statutory leave can be carried in special cases (such as long-term sickness), while purely contractual leave above the minimum is more often 'use it or lose it'.
Frequently asked questions
- Is unused holiday lost at the end of the year?
- It depends on the policy. Many employers allow a limited number of days to carry over (with an expiry date), while leave above that cap is forfeited unless the contract or local law says otherwise.
Related terms
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