The confirmation that the Queen’s funeral will be a national Bank Holiday means that millions of Brits could get the day off work.
The government has announced this afternoon (Saturday) that Her Majesty’s funeral will be at 11am on Monday, September 19. It has also been designated as a bank holiday for the entirety of the UK.
Naturally, that means a lot of people could well be off work. However, the government is advising that it’s not as simple as one might think.
New guidance from authorities confirms that each employer needs to make their own decision on whether or not they will give staff the day off. A notice from the government explained: “This is a matter for discussion between individuals and their employer. There is no statutory entitlement to time off for bank holidays, but employers may include bank holidays as part of a worker’s leave entitlement.
“The government cannot interfere in existing contractual arrangements between employers and workers. However, we would expect that many workers will be able to take the day off on the bank holiday. We also expect employers to respond sensitively to requests from workers who wish to take the day of the funeral off work.”
Already, it has been confirmed that schools will close for the funeral, so many working parents will be hoping they can get time off to look after their little ones, and also remember Her Majesty.
The guidance also says staff should speak with their bosses over if they will get a day’s holiday in lieu if they do work the funeral date. That’s the same policy for overtime rates, the government says, and reclaiming annual leave days if it is granted as a free day off by your employer.
Her Majesty will lie in state for four days before the funeral, in Westminster Hall, and from there, the funeral procession will travel to Westminster Abbey. Her final resting place will be St George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle.
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