Worked example
Twenty days of 10-hour shifts can represent more paid leave hours than twenty-five days of 7-hour shifts.
Frequently asked questions
Does this calculate statutory holiday entitlement?
No. It only compares figures you enter. Check your contract or official guidance for entitlement questions.
Should bank holidays be included?
Include them only if they form part of the holiday figure you want to compare.
Compare leave packages on an hours basis
Holiday offers expressed only in days can be misleading when jobs have different normal day lengths. Converting leave into paid hours makes a 20-day package of long shifts directly comparable with a 25-day package of shorter days.
The optional hourly value then gives those paid leave hours a monetary comparison value. This is not a statutory-holiday calculation and does not determine what an employer must provide.
Before comparing holiday packages, check
- whether bank holidays are included or additional;
- how leave is deducted for compressed or variable shifts;
- whether entitlement increases with service;
- rules for buying, selling or carrying leave forward.
Paid leave hours are often a fairer comparison than headline days. The monetary value is best used as one component of a broader job-benefits comparison.