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 shop 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 employer for over £ 27,000 ( $ 34,939 ) 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.