N
The Global Insight

Can I take annual leave during phased return?

Author

John Johnson

Updated on March 29, 2026

For a phased return to work, holiday entitlement continues to accrue as normal while an individual is off sick. One option is to allow employees to use part of their annual leave to account for times they’re not working on their return—this is to cover any reductions in pay.

Does an employer have to agree to a phased return to work?

The phased return to work must be agreed upon by both employee and employer, to ensure both parties are happy with the arrangement.

Is there a time limit on return to work interviews?

Employers sometimes wonder if there’s a time limit on how long they have to conduct a return to work interview after an employee’s return. There are no set rules around this, but as previously mentioned, the sooner you can check they’re well enough to be in work the better.

Can my employer force me to come back to the office?

Two of the biggest questions on many minds include: “can employers force employees to come back into the office if they have a return to the workday. Leslie said, “So, for the first one, yes, the employer can mandate that employees come back to the workplace as a condition of their work.

Can employers require employees to return to the office?

Therefore, employees cannot refuse to return to the office provided the direction to do so is lawful and reasonable. If they do, they may be subject to disciplinary action. As with anything else, talk to your employee if they do refuse to return to the office. Find out why they are unwilling to return.

What is a reasonable phased return to work?

A phased return to work usually lasts anywhere between two to six weeks, but can go on longer if necessary. The number of hours and days you work in a week varies – a phased return to work plan revolves entirely around you and your needs.

Should phased return to work be on full pay?

Do you get full pay on phased return to work? You do not necessarily get full pay on a phased return to work. It depends on the policy of your employer. However, it may be possible to ‘top-up’ your pay with either Statutory Sick Pay, Occupational Sick Pay or even from annual leave.

Can my employer refuse a phased return?

If an employee has a disability, then employers must make reasonable adjustments to help the employee return to work and to help them to do their job. If a disabled employee made a request for a phased return and this was refused, you would likely be in breach of the Equality Act 2010.

When to return to work after a long absence?

After long-term absence If there’s been a long absence or the employee has an ongoing health condition, it’s a good idea for the employer and employee to meet and: make sure the employee is ready to return to work talk about any work updates that happened while they were off

What do you need to know about returning to work?

The worker may need to undergo a medical evaluation confirming fitness to work. The worker on returning to work then needs to wear a surgical mask for 21 days from the positive test result while at work and practices social distancing and good respiratory and hand hygiene.

How long should you stay home from work before returning to work?

Disease severity factors and the presence of immunocompromising conditions should be considered when determining the appropriate duration for specific HCP. For example, HCP with characteristics of severe illness may be most appropriately managed by staying home for at least 15 days before return to work.

When do health care workers return to work?

In some instances, a test-based strategy, in consultation with occupational health, could be considered to allow HCP to return to work earlier than if the symptom-based strategy were used.