Companies across the UK are making arrangements for the extra holiday day - being held on Friday, June 3 - as part of four days of national celebrations to celebrate Her Majesty’s 70 years on the throne.
However, employees are not automatically entitled to a day off for the special bank holiday being held to mark the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee. Many employers may have queries about their legal obligations about the date.
Ben Doherty, Partner and Head of our Employment law team, said: “Some businesses are asking whether they need to grant staff an additional day’s paid holiday on June 3 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 June 3.
“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.”
Advice for firms whose employees are entitled to the extra day of paid holiday is to hold discussions with them as soon as possible to look at how any staffing needs will be managed, including colleagues who may be willing to work the day and take another day off in lieu.
The same employment law legislation in respect of bank holiday entitlement covers the whole of the UK.
Article published on 10 March 2022.
