Here’s how to maximise your annual leave in 2022

Coming up to the end of January, it’s nice to have something to look forward to. It’s also quite often a time of the year where many of us are trying to save our annual leave days: maybe we plan on maxxing them out on a long summer break, or are saving them for the Christmas holidays.

No matter the reason, if you’re looking ahead to the next few months, it’s good to know that by timing your annual leave to line up with public holidays, you can get more days off in a row, perfect for completely switching off and getting a proper break. Here’s how.

St Patrick’s Day

The first opportunity of the year is St Patrick’s Day, March 17, which conveniently falls on a Thursday in 2022. Cabinet has approved plans for an additional public holiday on 18 March and a national commemorative event.  So, by taking Wednesday off as well, you gain a five-day weekend using just one day of annual leave.

Easter

Next up is Easter, which falls in April this year. If your employer takes Good Friday (April 15) off, Monday April 18 is the Easter Monday bank holiday, so if you use four days of annual leave to take Tuesday 19 – Friday 22 off, then you’ve gained 10 days off in a row for your four days leave.

May Day

And you don’t have to wait long for another break. The May bank holiday is on May 2 in 2022. Again, by using annual leave to take the rest of the week off (May 3-6), you’ll get nine days off for your four days leave.

June bank holiday

The same goes for the June bank holiday on Monday, June 6. Take the rest of the week off to turn four days of leave into nine.

August bank holiday

You know the drill by now, take advantage of the bank holiday on Monday, August 1 by booking the rest of the week off, and four days of annual leave becomes nine consecutive days off.

October bank holiday

If you’d prefer a mid-term break with the kids, then perhaps the timing of the October bank holiday works better: Monday October 31. Book November 1-4 off to once again turn four days leave into nine days off.

Christmas holidays

Christmas Day falls on a Sunday in 2022, so many employers will take this as a holiday on Tuesday December 27 instead. Combined with St Stephen’s Day on Monday December 26, this means you can book December 28-30 off, and with the New Year’s Day bank holiday on Monday January 2, you’ll get 10 days off in a row for your three days leave.