I work part-time for an agency, working four hours, five days a week. But when I took my first evening off I was only paid half what I would normally receive. The agency said the amount was based on “accumulated hours”, which I take to mean that you only get full pay if you work full time. Is this legal?
You should be paid your normal rate when you take holidays. In your situation you should have a minimum of 112 hours’ paid annual leave (5.6 weeks x 20 hours). In your first year you can build up entitlement to paid leave as you go along, so for example after you’ve been there a month you can take one-twelfth of your annual entitlement. Discuss this further with the agency. If you can’t sort it out you should use the agency’s grievance procedure.