HR / Contract question re: Bank Hols

[Springal]

Just been 'reminded' by HR at work, that the bank holiday a week on Tuesday, is not a 'proper' bank holiday and we are expected to work, as our contracts indicate 8 days bank holidays allowance a year, and this year there is 9.

They have requested any staff use holiday to book this day off.

I am pretty certain they can't do this, but they are adamant, as well as it being completely pointless as no suppliers and very little customers will be open anyway!

Does anyone know legally where I stand?

 

[sten_super]

There was an article on the Beeb about this the other week, which I now can't find. edit: found it BBC News - Diamond Jubilee: Your rights to a day off work

Basically, if your contract says you are entitled to 'all standard bank holidays' or similar, they have a get out clause, as this is not a standard bank holiday, so they can make you work it. If it says 'all bank holidays' then they have to give it to you.

That was at least the gist of it.

Looking at your post, if your contract states that you are entitled to '8 bank holidays' then yes, they can force you to work it.

 

[Deleted member 22389]

Just been 'reminded' by HR at work, that the bank holiday a week on Tuesday, is not a 'proper' bank holiday and we are expected to work, as our contracts indicate 8 days bank holidays allowance a year, and this year there is 9.

They have requested any staff use holiday to book this day off.

I am pretty certain they can't do this, but they are adamant, as well as it being completely pointless as no suppliers and very little customers will be open anyway!

Does anyone know legally where I stand?

I found this
Jubilee Bank Holiday Allowing Time Off

 

[NickBHAFC18]

Sounds a bit sneaky to be fair, my work haven't got a problem with it and thankfully we have both days off.

 

[Springal]

Bah! If I hadn't booked to go away, I'd just 'work it' from home and save the holiday.

Bad form in my opinion, especially as it seems totally pointless.

 

[Simster]

If I was an employer I would be VERY pissed off that we've had this bank holiday foisted upon us. The arrogance of the royal family...

 

[Munkfish]

Bad Form indeed, however as said previously, they can ask you to work it.

The Tuesday is a Public holiday not a Bank Holiday, however I guess not to many people in the Modern World get all there bank holidays off without having to do some form of work.

 

[Woodchip]

Remind them that you have already worked an extra day this year for the leap year, so you are taking that as a day in lieu.

 

[Lord Bracknell]

It does depend on what your contract of employment actually says. There's no outside agency you can appeal to, on the grounds that "everyone else has the day off".

 

[Herr Tubthumper]

If I was an employer I would be VERY pissed off that we've had this bank holiday foisted upon us. The arrogance of the royal family...

The government is telling us to work harder and the Queen is saying take a day off. It's very confusing.

 

[Woodchip]

The government is telling us to work harder and the Queen is saying take a day off. It's very confusing.

And that alone is a good reason to keep the monarchy.

 

[Simster]

And that alone is a good reason to keep the monarchy.

You what?

 

[leigull]

Did you get the wedding off last year? Seem to remember there being issues with people not getting that off when they thought they were entitled too

 

[Triggaaar]

completely pointless as no suppliers and very little customers will be open anyway!

Will your company be open?

 

[Jozza]

This all boils down to your contract. The loophole for companies here is the Tuesday is classed as a "public holiday" not a "bank holiday" so many people are being made to work it, take holiday or take unpaid leave.

 

[seagullsovergrimsby]

I like the way we are told we're the laziest in Europe compared to other nations. Why is it they get additional bank and public holidays ? France , Germany , Italy , Spain , Portugal etc etc all get "Saints" days and national/independence days off extra to the regular ones.

 

[Herr Tubthumper]

And that alone is a good reason to keep the monarchy.

I'd cut the heads off of both of 'em personally.

 

[NickBHAFC18]

I like the way we are told we're the laziest in Europe compared to other nations. Why is it they get additional bank and public holidays ? France , Germany , Italy , Spain , Portugal etc etc all get "Saints" days and national/independence days off extra to the regular ones.

Don't they have something ridiculous like 32 bank/public holidays a year?

 

[Herr Tubthumper]

I like the way we are told we're the laziest in Europe compared to other nations. Why is it they get additional bank and public holidays ? France , Germany , Italy , Spain , Portugal etc etc all get "Saints" days and national/independence days off extra to the regular ones.

And they have a proper May Day celebration. In Berlin they spend the day travelling around the city on a truck, dressed in black, blasting out techno music whilst torching Porsches; what's not too like?

 

[Herr Tubthumper]

Don't they have something ridiculous like 32 bank/public holidays a year?

Maybe it's because they work so hard they can take all these extra days off? The Germans are well known for their efficiency; if you can do two days work in one day then take the second day off.