Does holiday pay and leave accrue when someone is on maternity leave ?

Hospitality business owner asks:

I have a member of staff due to return to the restaurant after her statutory maternity leave. Before she comes back, she want to take the paid holiday she’s accrued while she’s been off. Is this correct?

Acumenica answers:

In the UK, holiday pay does continue to accrue while an employee is on maternity leave. This is because maternity leave is considered a form of paid leave, and employees continue to accrue their entitlement to statutory annual leave (commonly known as holiday leave or paid vacation) during this time.

The specific rules and calculations for holiday pay during maternity leave can be somewhat complex and may depend on various factors, such as the employee's specific employment contract and the company's policies. It's important to note that employees are entitled to a minimum amount of paid annual leave under UK law.