The last time there was a coronation was in June 1953, when the country celebrated the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II.
This year there will be another coronation when King Charles III will be crowned in Westminster Abbey on 6 May.
This means an extra bank holiday for workers, adding to an already crowded holiday list from April through to the end of May.
Statutory entitlement
While a celebration for the country, the extra day may prove a headache for employers, who need to ensure all aspects of their business are still covered.
They also need to make sure contractual employment entitlements are not breached and staff know what time off they are entitled to.
The additional bank holiday will be on Monday 8 May 2023, but the question is, who is entitled to that extra day off?
Whether or not employees are entitled to take an additional day off for the bank holiday will depend on the wording of their contract.
Statutory holiday entitlement does not increase to account for additional one-off bank holidays such as a monarch’s coronation or a royal wedding.
Compensated
Not everyone gets the day off as companies need to assess the needs of their business, while essential workers and shift workers often have to work but are often compensated with time off in lieu (TOIL).
If working bank holidays are mandatory in your business the terms should be outlined in your employment contracts.
By law, staff are entitled to 5.6 weeks paid holiday (‘statutory annual leave’) a year.
That entitlement might include bank holidays, depending on your contract.
Part-time workers
If you work part-time, you’re still entitled to 5.6 weeks paid holiday ‘pro rata’.
What are staff entitled to for bank holidays:
They get the extra day if their contract states – 20 days of holiday plus bank holidays.
Staff in England and Wales are not entitled to the extra bank holiday if their contract states – 20 days of holiday plus eight bank holidays.
Workers are not entitled to the extra day if their contract states – 28 days or 5.6 weeks which includes bank holidays.
Pay and TOIL for those working bank holidays
There is no legal obligation to offer additional pay for working on a bank holiday. Often employers will offer increased rates plus time off in lieu (TOIL).
Time and a half, plus a day off in lieu can make working bank holidays attractive to some. Although not all employees will have an automatic entitlement to the extra day, many employers will award it as a goodwill gesture.
What happens if payday falls on a bank holiday?
If your usual payday falls on a weekend or a bank holiday, most businesses normally pay their employees a little earlier.
For instance, if you are normally paid on a Friday, for Good Friday your employer will likely pay you on the previous day.
However, in some cases, you might be paid late. This can vary depending on your employer.
Make sure you confirm the date so you can manage your money accordingly.
For help and payroll advice on bank holidays or any other related matters, please contact our team.
