In 2022, the May Spring Bank Holiday will be moved to Thursday 2nd June and an additional Bank Holiday on Friday 3rd June will create a four-day weekend to help celebrate The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee.
Whether or not employees are entitled to an additional day’s holiday when an extra bank holiday is announced to mark a particular occasion, will depend on the wording of the employment contract. Employees do not have an automatic right to paid time off on a bank holiday. If the employment contract states that the employee’s annual leave entitlement is a certain number of days plus bank holidays, they will be entitled to the additional day off. However, if in the contract the holiday entitlement is expressed as a certain number of days “plus eight bank holidays”, or if the contract specifies which holidays are included, the employee will not automatically be entitled to the additional b-holiday.
Where employees are not automatically entitled to the additional b-holiday as paid time off, employers may wish to grant it to their employees as a gesture of goodwill. If it is not possible for all employees to take time off for business reasons, employers may provide time off in lieu as an alternative.
It is important that employers communicate with their employees well in advance about whether or not they will be required to work on the additional b-holiday in line with the terms of the contract.
If you would like any further information, please get in contact us on 01932 830664 or email hrservices@wardwilliams.co.uk.