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Bank holidays

In the UK, bank holidays or public holidays are days that the majority of people have off work and that is generally observed as a holiday. There is no statutory entitlement to leave or paid leave on public holidays. This means that employees’ entitlement to paid time off for bank holidays depends on the wording of contracts of employment.

Some employers will require employees to take bank holidays as part of their annual leave, while others will give employees time off on bank holidays in addition to their annual leave entitlement. Difficult areas for employers include how to treat extra bank holidays (for example, for some royal events) and bank holidays for part-time workers.


    • Annual hours
    • Bank holidays
    • Latest News

    Bank holidays: six things employers need to know

    by Personnel Today 2 May 2025
    by Personnel Today 2 May 2025

    We look at common questions on employers' minds regarding bank holidays. Northern Ireland marks the Battle of the Boyne on 12 July.

    • Bank holidays
    • Latest News
    • Holidays and holiday pay

    Easter bank holidays: Do you owe staff an extra day off?

    by Rob Moss 24 Mar 2025
    by Rob Moss 24 Mar 2025

    Employers with a holiday year running from April to March are being warned that they could owe their employees an extra day’s leave.

    • IR35
    • Bank holidays
    • Latest News

    Top 10 HR questions February 2025: Supporting employees observing Ramadan

    by Brightmine 4 Mar 2025
    by Brightmine 4 Mar 2025

    Most frequently asked questions during February include queries about Ramadan and dismissals on the grounds of ill health.

    • Europe
    • USA
    • Bank holidays

    UK’s mediocre work-life balance rating revealed

    by Adam McCulloch 4 Oct 2024
    by Adam McCulloch 4 Oct 2024

    UK lags behind Spain, France, Germany, Iceland, Japan and Norway when it comes to work-life balance.

    • Bank holidays
    • Latest News
    • Sickness absence

    England v Spain: HR frets about the Euro final

    by Adam McCulloch 12 Jul 2024
    by Adam McCulloch 12 Jul 2024

    How should HR react to time off for the Euros final: productivity must be balanced with employee morale say HR professionals.

    • Absence
    • Bank holidays
    • Latest News

    England v Spain Euros final: employers offer workers time off

    by Adam McCulloch 12 Jul 2024
    by Adam McCulloch 12 Jul 2024

    Businesses are looking to give workers time off on Monday, in the aftermath of the England v Spain Euros final....

    • Zero hours
    • Carers
    • Annual hours

    Top 10 HR questions March 2024: Ramadan, carer’s leave and holiday

    by Brightmine 3 Apr 2024
    by Brightmine 3 Apr 2024

    The top FAQ this month looks at how employers can support employees observing Ramadan, which this year runs until 10 April.

    • Bank holidays
    • Latest News
    • Employment contracts

    Why some employers must provide extra holiday in 2024

    by Stephen Simpson 13 Mar 2024
    by Stephen Simpson 13 Mar 2024

    As a result of how the Easter bank holidays fall in 2024 and 2025, some employers will breach their employees’...

    • Bank holidays
    • Latest News
    • Holidays and holiday pay

    Annual leave: Days taken drops 8%

    by Rob Moss 19 Feb 2024
    by Rob Moss 19 Feb 2024

    Research finds the amount of holiday entitlement and the number of annual leave days taken fell in 2023 compared to previous year.

    • Bank holidays
    • Latest News
    • Holidays and holiday pay

    How to manage time off requests over Christmas

    by Hannah Dowd 9 Oct 2023
    by Hannah Dowd 9 Oct 2023

    How can HR and managers ensure holiday is allocated fairly and evenly over the festive period?

    • Employee relations
    • Bank holidays
    • Trade unions

    Could VAR intervene and award a late World Cup bank holiday?

    by Adam McCulloch 17 Aug 2023
    by Adam McCulloch 17 Aug 2023

    The TUC and Labour Party have locked horns with the government over a snap bank holiday in the event of the England team winning the World Cup on Sunday.

    • Australia
    • Bank holidays
    • Latest News

    Company admits 13-year payroll error costing £225m

    by Rob Moss 1 Jun 2023
    by Rob Moss 1 Jun 2023

    BHP payroll error costing £225m discovered for current and former employers who had annual leave deducted on public holidays.

    • Absence
    • Bank holidays
    • Latest News

    Coronation time off: ‘Spare a thought’ for those who work

    by Jo Faragher 3 May 2023
    by Jo Faragher 3 May 2023

    The head of the TUC has asked people to 'spare a thought' for those who must work during the coronation or bank holiday.

    • Absence
    • Brexit
    • Age discrimination

    Top 10 HR questions April 2023: Bank holiday sickness

    by Brightmine 3 May 2023
    by Brightmine 3 May 2023

    What is the entitlement for employees who are off sick on a bank holiday? See this and other top HR questions for April 2023.

    • Bank holidays
    • Latest News
    • Flexible working

    Employees prefer flexible bank holiday time off

    by Adam McCulloch 28 Apr 2023
    by Adam McCulloch 28 Apr 2023

    As the UK enters a month with three bank holidays, nearly three-quarters of UK workers are in favour of flexible bank holidays, new research has shown.

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Personnel Today
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