Two weeks today (Monday 24 April 2023), many companies are providing employees with an extra holiday following the King’s coronation being held on Saturday 6 May - part of three days of national celebrations in recognition of the historic occasion. However, workers are not automatically entitled to a day off for this special bank holiday.
Our Employment team have fielded queries from employers on their legal obligations about the date so one of our Employment Partners, Kate Wyatt offers some recommendations on how to approach this situation.
Do we need to grant staff an additional day’s paid holiday on May 8 or a day off if they work it?
“While I know that many employers want to - and will - do all they can to ensure staff can join in the celebrations, the legal position is clear: There’s no automatic entitlement for an employee to be granted a paid holiday on May 8.
“An employee’s entitlement to this additional paid holiday will hinge on the specific wording of their contract of employment.
“If their contract is drafted in general terms, providing that employees will receive all public holidays in addition to basic entitlement, employees are likely to be entitled to the extra paid holiday.
“However, if the contract allows for specific public holidays or entitles employees to eight or nine public holidays in addition to basic entitlement which together totals a minimum of 28 days, there is no obligation to grant the extra day of paid holiday.”
King Charles’ coronation will actually take place on Saturday, May 6, though this isn’t classified as a bank holiday.
Communication is key
Lawyers at Lindsays are advising firms whose employees are entitled to the extra day of paid holiday to hold discussions with them as soon as possible to look at how any staffing needs will be managed, including whether colleagues may be willing to work the day and take another day off in lieu.
Regardless of the legal entitlement, many firms will offer employees the day off as a gesture of goodwill. Should they do so, it is advisable that this message is communicated clearly and a consistent approach is adopted. If the additional Jubilee Bank Holiday in 2022 was offered by firms, it is recommended that this approach be followed for the King’s Coronation.
The same employment law legislation in respect of bank holiday entitlement covers the whole of the UK.
The original version of this article featured in the national and regional press on Monday 24 April 2023 via the Express online and via the Evening Telegraph (in print) and the Courier online.
