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The coronation of King Charles III is due to take place on Saturday, May 6, 2023.
In light of this, the government has confirmed that there will be an additional UK-wide bank holiday on Monday, May 8.
Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak, said: “The coronation of a new monarch is a unique moment for our country. In recognition of this historic occasion, I am pleased to announce an additional bank holiday for the whole United Kingdom.
However, HR expert Nicky Jolley highlights that the coronation bank holiday, which is an extra bank holiday, is not something everyone is entitled to, explaining that it all depends on the wording of your contract.
Employers should discuss and agree with employees:
- whether the organisation will close for the bank holiday
- what type of leave and pay will apply if employees are not working
An employee’s contract could say that they’re entitled to a certain number of days of annual leave plus all bank holidays. In this scenario, employees will have a contractual right to the extra day off.
However, other contracts may be worded differently and simply allow for 28 days (or more depending on terms) off in any one holiday-year. This may mean that the employee is not automatically entitled to bank holidays off. Indeed in several sectors, contracts specifically state bank holidays are counted as normal working days.
In such situations, it is important to discuss what is expected of employees and how employers propose on dealing with the extra bank holiday this year.
When considering what to do, it is important to remember that schools will be closed with the bank holiday, so the issue of childcare may be problematic for some workers, especially women who are still considered the primary carer. Therefore, employers need to be careful of potential resulting sex discrimination claims.
We understand that the additional bank holiday may arise issues in the workplace. For more information please contact imadarescu@astonbond.co.uk or 01753 486 777
