There is a double bank holiday coming up at the beginning of June that includes an extra 'day off' added to the calendar to mark the Queen's Jubilee. It means there are nine bank holidays in England and Wales this year, instead of the usual eight.
Sadly, not every worker is entitled to bank holidays, thousands will be grafting through the ' four day weekend' due to start on Thursday June 2. But even those usually entitled to bank holidays off - or lieu days or extra cash if they choose to work them - might miss out on the additional bank holiday this year.
You might want to check your contract. The wording could secure you the day off, or force you in.
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When is the Jubilee Bank Holiday 2022
This year there are nine bank holidays in England and Wales instead of the usual eight. An extra one has been added to mark the Queen's Jubilee, while the late May bank holiday has been moved to Thursday June 2, the day before the extra bank holiday to celebrate the Queen's Platinum Jubilee on Friday June 3. For many, that means four days off.
Jubilee Bank Holiday 2022 - does my boss have to give me the extra day off or can they make me work?
Firstly, if you are not usually entitled to bank holidays off, then nothing changes. Employers can choose to give you them off or not. If your contract does not say that you get bank holidays off or lieu days for working them, then you will not be entitled to the days off in June.
"Bank or public holidays do not have to be given as paid leave," says Gov.uk
"An employer can choose to include bank holidays as part of a worker’s statutory annual leave."
It's a bit more complicated if you do get bank holidays off as per your contract. Depending on the wording of your employment agreement - or how nice your boss is - you may not have the right to both days off.
That's because there are usually eight bank holidays in England and Wales. But this year there are nine.
Xpert HR explains why that matters : "Some contracts of employment make it clear that the employee is entitled to take 'all bank and public holidays' as leave. If this is the case, the employee does have the contractual right to take a day's leave in respect of the additional bank holiday."
"Some contracts of employment state that the employee is entitled to take all 'usual' bank holidays as leave, or give a specific number of bank holidays (for example 'eight bank holidays'). If this is the case, the employee does not have the contractual right to take a day's leave in respect of the additional bank holiday and the employer needs to consider whether to grant staff an additional day's leave."
So, if your contract says you're entitled to an amount of annual leave plus "bank holidays" or "all bank holidays" - but it does not specify "eight" or "usual" then you should be given the extra bank holiday. If your contract specifies that you are entitled to an amount of annual leave plus a certain number of bank holidays off, such as the usual eight, then you are not automatically entitled to the extra day off for the Jubilee.
Unions have called on employers to reward their staff by awarding them the day off or extra pay regardless of their contracts. Many employers have chosen to give their staff the extra bank holiday, regardless of their contracts.
A TUC spokesperson said the union thinks the law that gives full-time workers a holiday entitlement of at least 28 days off - including the eight bank holidays - a year should be improved to accommodate occasional extra bank holidays, so no employee misses out.
Unison says: "In UK law there is no statutory entitlement to paid time off on bank holidays, but we hope that employers will be sensible and give all their workers the extra bank holiday with pay in 2022 – not least in recognition for the efforts of everyone in 2020 to respond to the Covid emergency."
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