My wife left her employment three months ago, at which point she had taken no annual leave. Her employer told her that because she hadn’t taken any holidays they were forfeited. Is this right?
No. Your wife was entitled to a payment in lieu of her lost holiday. If she worked six months of the firm’s leave year, for example, she should be entitled to half her annual holiday pay. Even though she has left she can still use the firm’s grievance procedure to attempt to sort this out. If necessary she could take her case to an employment tribunal, but this must normally be done within three months. Otherwise your wife may, at this stage, have to sue her former employer for breach of contract in the County Court.