Can I refuse an employee's holiday request?

You can refuse a holiday request if you have a genuine business reason.

You must be able to justify it. "We'll be busy" is not enough on its own. A real reason might be that you are short staffed or have an event on those dates. ACAS recommends putting the refusal and reason in writing.

A refusal is only valid if you:

  • give notice at least as long as the holiday (your contract can set a shorter period)
  • still let them take all their holiday in the year
  • do not discriminate: "first come, first served" can disadvantage parents and carers
  • offer another date if you can

Further reading

  • Managing clashing holiday requests

    When several people want the same weeks off, the law decides more of it than fairness does: notice deadlines, the duty to let people take their leave, and the discrimination risk in 'first come, first served'.