UK Bank Holidays 1841

Bank holidays are public holidays in the United Kingdom where most businesses and schools close. In England and Wales there are usually 8 bank holidays per year, though the government occasionally announces additional ones for special events such as coronations or jubilees.

There is no legal right to time off on bank holidays in the UK. Employers can choose to include bank holidays as part of your statutory 28-day annual leave entitlement or offer them on top. What matters is that employees receive their full 28 days (or pro-rata equivalent). Whether that includes bank holidays is up to the employer.

Part-time employees are entitled to a pro-rata share of bank holidays based on the days and hours they work. For example, someone working 3 days a week would receive 3/5 of the full bank holiday entitlement. Employers need to make sure part-time staff aren't disadvantaged compared to full-time colleagues. This is a legal requirement under the Part-Time Workers Regulations.

It depends on your employment contract. Many employers give bank holidays on top of your annual leave entitlement, but some include them within your total allowance. If your contract says "20 days plus bank holidays" then they're extra. If it says "28 days including bank holidays" then they're part of your total. Check your contract or ask your HR team if you're unsure.

Shift workers who are required to work on bank holidays are usually entitled to their normal pay unless their contract specifies enhanced rates. There's no automatic legal right to extra pay for working a bank holiday. It comes down to what's in the employment contract. Many employers offer time-and-a-half or a day off in lieu as a goodwill measure to keep morale high.