Scots could enjoy up to 65 days away from work in 2027 by carefully planning their annual leave around bank holidays, according to Frances Li, founder and director of Biscuit Recruitment. The practice, known as leave stacking, allows workers to maximise time off without using more holiday days.
Most Scots are entitled to around 28 days of annual leave a year, depending on their job. By booking time off around Scotland's nine bank holidays in 2027, workers in Monday-to-Friday roles could secure extra days off on top of their entitlements.
How Leave Stacking Works
Leave stacking involves scheduling annual leave around bank holidays and long weekends to create extended breaks. For example, Scots wanting time off around Easter could enjoy 10 days off while using only five days of annual leave. With Good Friday falling on March 26, Li advises booking off Monday, March 29 to Friday, April 2, giving time off from March 26 through to Sunday, April 4.
The method works only for those in Monday-to-Friday roles where weekends and bank holidays are non-working days. Not all Scots will be able to capitalise on every bank holiday, particularly if they plan summer or October family trips, but the approach can still add extra days off.
Scottish Bank Holidays 2027
Scotland will have nine bank holidays in 2027: New Year's Day (Friday, January 1), 2nd January substitute day (Monday, January 4), Good Friday (Friday, March 26), Early May Bank Holiday (Monday, May 3), Spring Bank Holiday (Monday, May 31), Summer Bank Holiday (Monday, August 2), St Andrew's Day (Tuesday, November 30), Christmas Day substitute day (Monday, December 27) and Boxing Day substitute day (Tuesday, December 28).
Li said: "Everyone deserves time to switch off, recharge and enjoy life outside work! Planning your annual leave ahead of time helps you make the most of your days off, whether you’re heading on holiday, spending time with family or simply having a well-earned rest."
Maximising Days Off in 2027
For New Year, booking off Tuesday, January 5 to Friday, January 8 (4 days) gives 10 days off from January 1 to January 10. For Easter, booking off Monday, March 29 to Friday, April 2 (5 days) gives 10 days off from March 26 to April 4.
For the Early May Bank Holiday, booking off Tuesday, May 4 to Friday, May 7 (4 days) gives 9 days off from May 1 to May 9. For the Spring Bank Holiday, booking off Tuesday, June 1 to Friday, June 4 (4 days) gives 9 days off from May 29 to June 6.
For the Summer Bank Holiday, booking off Tuesday, August 3 to Friday, August 6 (4 days) gives 9 days from July 31 to August 8. For St Andrew's Day, booking off Monday, November 29 and Wednesday, December 1 to Friday, December 3 (4 days) gives 9 days off from November 27 to December 5.
For Christmas and New Year, booking off Wednesday, December 29 to Friday, December 31 (3 days) gives 9 days off from December 25 to January 2, 2028. Li added: "And for employers, supporting people to take those breaks is a great way to build a team that wants to stay. When employees feel valued, trusted and able to enjoy a healthy work-life balance, they have more reason to grow with a business rather than look elsewhere."
