End of contract at last working day

[alexherbert]

I have handed in my resignation on the 3rd of March. As I have four week notice, I informed my line manager that the end of contract date would be 31 March, although my last working day would be 19 March.

A couple of days later HR came back to me and informed me that end of contract would be 19 March as it is company policy to end the contract on the last working day. However, as this would imply I will not get Easter holidays paid, I changed my last working day to the 31th.

My question is:
Is it legal to end the contract the last working day if the last working day is before the end of the notice period ? It seems rather convenient for my company not having to pay bank holidays.

[Subbynet]

What does it say in the contract about ending the contract early?

[alexherbert]

What does it say in the contract about ending the contract early?

Nothing, except for the usual section on gross misconduct. This section is not applicable in my case.

For completeness I provide you with the entire contract section on termination of employment

12.1 The notice required by xxx to terminate your employment will be:

Four weeks notice or one week's notice for each completed year of employment up to a maximum of twelve weks notice, whichever is larger

12.2 The notice required by you to xxx to terminate your Contract of Employment will be four weeks.

12.3 We reserve the right in our absolute discretion to pay you basic salary in lieu of notice

12.4 Nothing in these Particulars prevents us from terminating your employment summarily or otherwise in the event of any serious breach by you of the terms of youru employment or in the event of any act or acts of gross misconduct by you.

[FPB-advice]

Have you tried questioning your employers about the dates and what they are meaning?
They may well have you down to finish working on a certain day but may be intending pilon from that point to the end of 4th week, your notice period is explicit. What job is it you are doing, are you working term time or any such thing or just normal employment.