To celebrate the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee, the usual late May bank holiday has been moved to 2 June in 2022, and an additional one-off bank holiday has been created for 3 June.
So, a bonus 4 day weekend? Or if you don’t mind (or are stuck with) holidaying over school half term, the chance to head away for a party worthy 9 days off work by taking 3 days holiday (for full time 5/7 workers)?
But before you get too excited, are YOU entitled to the holiday?
Many workers will assume they will just be given the extra day off but whether you are actually entitled to it (or any additional pay because of it) will depend on the wording of your contract. If you are able to take the day off is another question entirely and likely to be determined by the role you do, the sector you work in, whether your employer is open for business on bank holidays, and how quick you are off the mark as compared to your co-workers.
So breaking it down:
- If your contract says that you are entitled to a specific number of days annual leave PLUS or IN ADDITION to bank / statutory holidays. Win, you are entitled to an additional day off.
- If your contract says that you are entitled to a specific number of days of annual leave INCLUSIVE OF bank holidays. Lose, you are not entitled to it. However, that said as most contracts won’t have been drafted with the aim of specifically excluding such holidays it is definitely worth asking.
- If your contract says that you are entitled to a specific number of days annual leave IN ADDITION TO THE USUAL eight bank holidays (in England and Wales). The jury is out. The additional holiday isn’t “usual” but for this year is a “standard” bank holiday like any other, and so really it will be at your employer’s discretion as to whether you get it or not.
What to do?
Take a look at your contract and see what it says. If you are entitled and your place of work will be operational, get booking time off fast before your colleagues do. If your entitlement is dubious get asking sooner rather than later. Most employers will be mindful of employee relations, especially where the extra holiday is being reported in the press as an extra-long weekend for “everyone”, and so may be (no guarantees) more generous than you might otherwise normally hope.