Bank holiday hack could get clever workers 56 days off…

Bank holiday hack could get clever workers 56 days off while only using 23 days annual leave in 2023

With 2023 fast-approaching, workers will likely already be thinking about their annual leave allowance and how to use it effectively.

One way to maximise time off while using the fewest amount of holiday days is by booking annual leave around bank holidays. Those who receive bank holidays will not have to book them off, so you only have to book four days of annual leave rather than five, and when you add in the weekend that's nine days off in total.

From the King's coronation in May to Saint Andrew's day in November, there is an opportunity to utilise bank holidays to get 56 days off while only using 23 days annual leave.

It might be a little late to book holidays for January, so let's start with April. In 2023, there will be an Easter Bank Holiday on April 7 celebrating Good Friday.

To give yourself a nine-day long break, you'll only need to book Monday April 3, Tuesday April 4, Wednesday April 5 and Thursday April 6 off.

Being strategic when booking leave could get you extra time off (Getty Images/iStockphoto)

April is followed by a number of bank holidays, starting with the early May Bank Holiday, which falls on Monday, May 1 in 2023. May 8 will also serve as a bank holiday, celebrating the coronation of the new King.

So, most workers will only get two days off, but they can stretch it to 10 days by booking annual leave on Tuesday May 2, Wednesday May 3, Thursday May 4 and Friday May 5.

There will be another day off at the end of the month, on Monday, May 29. You can stretch the Spring Bank Holiday to nine days off by also booking Tuesday May 30, Wednesday May 31, Thursday June 1 and Friday June 2.

Following that, The Summer Bank Holiday in 2023 will fall on Monday, August 7. Another nine day holiday could be yours if you choose to book the right days off.

You should book Tuesday August 8, Wednesday August 9, Thursday August 10 and Friday August 11.

Moving into winter now, Thursday, the 30th of November will be St Andrews day, and for four days off, workers will be able to get themselves another nine day holiday.

To do so, workers will need to book off Monday November 27, Tuesday November 28, Wednesday November 29 and Friday December 1.

To finish off the year, workers will receive two Bank Holidays in December. The first falls on Christmas day (Monday, December 25) and the second falls on boxing day (Tuesday, December 26).

But you can stretch the two days off to a nine day holiday if you book Wednesday December 27, Thursday December 28 and Friday December 29 off.