Annual leave is a period of paid time off work granted by employers to employees, allowing them to take time away from their job for personal rest, recreation, vacation, or other personal activities
. It is typically part of an employee's compensation package and is intended to help employees relax and rejuvenate, which can improve productivity and reduce work-related stress
. The amount of annual leave varies by country, employer policies, and sometimes by the employee's length of service. For example, in Australia, full-time employees generally receive 4 weeks of annual leave per year, with shift workers possibly receiving up to 5 weeks
. In the UK, the statutory minimum is 5.6 weeks (28 days) of paid leave annually for full-time employees, which may or may not include public holidays depending on the employer
. In the European Union, the minimum is typically 20 days (4 weeks), though some countries require more
. Annual leave accrues over time, often starting from the first day of employment, and unused leave usually carries over to the next year
. Employees normally request annual leave in advance, and employers may approve or deny requests based on business needs
. In summary, annual leave is paid time off granted annually to employees for rest and personal use, mandated by law in many countries and regulated by employer policies
