Workers have an entitlement to paid leave and can seek compensation if they are not granted it, according to a preliminary ruling by the European Court of Justice. The decision came in a case brought by a Mr King, a UK window salesman, whose employment contract with the Sash Window Workshop did not specify whether he was entitled to paid leave. King, who was described as self-employed in his contract, brought a compensation claim against the company for 34,939 ($over £27,000) of unclaimed holiday pay. Confirmation of the legal opinion could impose substantial costs on other UK firms.
Workers have an entitlement to paid leave and can seek compensation if they are not granted it, according to a preliminary ruling by the European Court of Justice. The decision came in a case brought by a Mr King, a UK window salesman, whose employment contract with the Sash Window Workshop did not specify whether he was entitled to paid leave. King, who was described as self-employed in his contract, brought a compensation claim against the company for over £27,000 ($34,939) of unclaimed holiday pay. Confirmation of the legal opinion could impose substantial costs on other UK firms.