We’ve approached the final bank holiday weekend of the year before Christmas.
While people are preparing to relax and enjoy the benefits of the long weekend - others are facing the prospect of a shift in work.
Although it is considered common practice to give workers time off, the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) states that Bank Holiday or public holidays do not have to be given as paid leave.
READ MORE: DWP confirms Universal Credit August Bank Holiday payment date
UK law says every full-time employee who works a five day-week is entitled to at least 28 days paid annual leave a year - and employers can choose to include the eight bank holidays as part of statutory leave.
Citizen's advice identify employers who are entitled to bank holiday leave will have one of the following terms written into their contract about bank holiday leave:
- it will be deducted from your annual leave allowance (so you’ll have to take all bank holidays as paid holiday)
- it will count as additional holiday days - you may or may not be paid for them
Citizen's advice say your contract should stipulate which situation applies to you. If it doesn’t, bank holidays will automatically be deducted from annual leave entitlement.
The group advise workers to look for wording such as ‘holidays’, ‘holiday entitlement’ or ‘annual leave’ when checking what your holiday entitlement is in your contract.
We've rounded up some other common questions on the laws around working a bank holiday.
Should I get extra pay for working bank holidays?
It's a common myth around working a bank holiday that employers need to pay you time and a half or double pay. However, Worksmart say there is no legal requirement to do this and any extra payment is up to your employer.
Can employers force you to take leave on a bank holiday?
Yes, according to the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service.(ACAS), employers can force people to take part of their statutory leave for a bank holiday if, for examples, the business is closed
What if I work part-time?
Part-time workers are entitled to the same rights as full-time workers. . However, part-time workers will be entitled to fewer holiday dates than full-time workers in proportion to how often they work. If work closes for a bank holiday, you will be forced to take a holiday - and this will leave you with fewer holiday days to take at a time of your choice.
Can I refuse to take leave on a bank holiday?
ACAS advise that employees can ask to work a bank holiday and take another day off instead. If an employer agrees to this, it is called taking a day's holiday in lieu.
However, whether employers can do this is entirely at the discretion of your employer.
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