MANY people are still not getting the paid holidays from work that they are entitled to because their employers aren't aware of their legal obligations, or they are rogue employers using a range of excuses and devices to avoid paying up.

It's one of the most common employment problems that people bring to the CAB. All workers are entitled to the legal minimum of four weeks' paid holiday from work each year, including bank holidays. It is an employee's statutory right and employers must comply.

These workers are often poorly paid, working for contract cleaning companies or in care homes, hairdressers, bars, restaurants, hotels, factories and so on.

The majority are women, many working part-time to juggle family or other caring commitments. They may never have received a contract of employment and are invariably non-unionised and vulnerable to rogue employers who exploit them.

Often the problem comes to light when people are leaving a job and are expecting to receive payment in lieu of untaken holidays, only to be told they are getting nothing.

CAB can - and do - help people to approach their employer with a view to getting their proper entitlement to paid holiday.

If you have problems with getting your rightful paid holiday entitlement, you can phone or pop into your local CAB, they are happy to help

For further help and information, please call 01256 322814

-Linda Fox, bureau manager