Bank holiday roundup

With the additional Jubilee Bank Holiday looming, here's a brief overview.

Bank holidays are not a statutory right

The is no such thing as a Bank Holiday Act in respect of employment law and workers rights. Nor is there any other legislation providing an automatic right to time off on a bank holiday.

There is no statutory right to additional pay on a bank holiday

Double time, time and a half, time off in lieu etc. - Many employers provide additional pay and benefits for working bank holidays, but that is purely a contractual agreement between the employer and employee. So, if all you receive on a bank holiday is normal pay, you have to grin and bear it!

There is an additional bank holiday this year

The bank holiday at the end of May (Spring bank holiday as it is commonly called) is being moved to Thursday 2 June to precede the Jubilee bank holiday on Friday 3 June giving everybody an extra long four day weekend (if they get bank holidays off that is!). just like Christmas and Easter holidays.

Do workers get an extra day’s holiday then?

Well . . . possibly. It all depends