What Is My Obligation To Pay Or Not To Pay Staff On Public Holidays?
Do you have a legal obligation to give your domestic staff time off and pay them?
Contrary to what some believe, you do NOT have to give staff paid leave on public (Bank) Holidays. You can choose to include them as part of their statutory annual leave. Their entitlements should be specified in their contract of employment.
So what happens when a Bank Holiday falls on a weekend? Well, when that happens, a ‘substitute’ weekday becomes a bank holiday, normally the following Monday, according to the hours and days you work:
Full-time workers are legally entitled to 5.6 weeks paid holiday per year (known as Statutory Leave Entitlement or annual leave).
Working 5 days a week
Most workers who work a 5-day week must receive at least 28 days paid annual leave per year. This is the equivalent of 5.6 weeks of holiday.
Working part-time
Part-time workers are entitled to at least 5.6 weeks’ paid holiday, but this will amount to fewer than 28 days.
For example, if they work 3 days a week, they must get at least 16.8 days’ leave a year (3 × 5.6).
The government’s holiday entitlement calculator can be used to work out a part-time worker’s leave.
The Graham Agency, keeping you informed.