EVERYONE loves booking time off from work, but did you know you could double your holiday this year if you're savvy with the dates you choose?

If you want to make up for lost time during the pandemic, you can make your holiday last for longer with a simple trick.

By picking specific days in the lead up to and beyond bank holidays, employees could extend their time off - assuming they don't normally work public holidays or weekends.

This means you could enjoy 38 days off work by only using 15 days of annual leave.

The secret is to combine existing public holidays with the days surrounding them.

This creates the biggest blocks of time available for the least working days missed.

This is how to maximise your time off work this year:

  • April 2 – April 11: Take a 10-day holiday by booking four days off. You will have to request April 6,7,8 and 9
  • May 1 – May 9: For a nine-day holiday you need to book four days off. Request May 4,5,6 and 7
  • or
  • May 29 – June 6: Treat yourself to a nine-day holiday by booking four days off. Request June 1,2,3 and 4
  • August 28 – September 5: Take a nine-day holiday by booking four days off. Request August 31 and September 1,2 and 3
  • December 25 – January 3: For a 10-day holiday you need to book three days off. Request December 29,30 and 31

If you want to get the most out of your holiday, you need to be quick because other employees may know these tips.