Under the Working Time Regulations set out by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), full-time and part-time workers are entitled to four weeks' annual paid leave. Temporary and part-time workers are entitled to paid holiday on a pro rata basis.
Employees are expected to give employers a notice period twice as long as the holiday they intend to take - so, for example, two weeks notice for a one-week holiday. An employer can object to a request for a holiday by giving counter-notice of the same period as the requested holiday - so, for example, giving two weeks notice that the request has not been granted where a request for two weeks' holiday was made.
For further information on working time regulations visit the Department of Business, Innovation and Trade: www.berr.gov.uk