Bank Holidays & Terms of Employment - don't get caught out!

The normal amount of 8 bank and public holidays we have become accustomed to working around was increased by 1 in 2011, to allow people to celebrate the Royal Wedding and again another was added in 2012 to celebrate the Queens' Diamond Jubilee.

However, what is important to get across to employees is that the adding of a Bank Holiday at any time or for whatever reason does not change the legal requirement on businesses to provide a minimum of only 5.6 weeks / 28 days holiday per year, for someone who works an average five day working week, or pro-rata for other workers.  

What is important is that employers must ensure that their terms and conditions of employment are unambiguous, in that the wording regarding holidays clearly states "28 days holiday per year, including bank holidays" This simple addition avoids any confusion or resentment from employees who may believe that the decision by government to add a bank or public holiday in a year does not mean that an addition to the minimum 28 days has been given, but just that a bank/public holiday has been granted and employers do not have a legal requirement to add this onto the minimum legal requirement.

Bank Holidays for the remainder of 2012 are:

• Summer Bank Holiday                         Monday 27th August 2012 
• Christmas Day  Public Holiday             Tuesday 25th December 2012 
• Boxing Day  Bank Holiday                   Wednesday 26th December 2012

Truck UK Online Associates can access a forward plan bank holiday list in the password protected online associates section of this website.