Days off in lieu

[Ashley_Price]

A friend of mine says she doesn't get a day off in lieu for Good Friday because she doesn't normally work Fridays.

Has the law changed? Because when I was working for a DIY store, I worked Tuesday to Saturday, meaning my "weekend" was effectively Sunday and Monday. However, when it was a Bank Holiday Monday, I was entitled to a day off in lieu and would have the Tuesday off.

I also had to give staff a day off in lieu for similar, when I employed people (2008-2013).

I've tried looking on the .gov site but cannot find any reference to this now.

 

[Newchodge]

There has never been a law about bank holidys and time in lieu, it is al down to your terms and conditions. The only law is that you get 5.6 weeks.

 

[Ashley_Price]

Thanks, Cyndy, I thought you would be on the case.

It seems I was very lucky in the DIY store then - because I can't imagine my then boss giving me time off unless he assumed I was legally entitled to it.

 

[Newchodge]

In the days before the 24 hour 7 day week need to be able to shop vurtually all retailersclosed on Sundays and Bank Holdays and all staff got those days off. When Sunday trading came in most stores just continued with their previous practice on bank holidays, but gave days in lieu as they wanted to be open on Bank Holidays. Over time that attitude has gone and most big retailers just give the stat minimum. However, if you look at the history of our minimum holiday entitlement everyone does get bank holidays off in lieu, pro rata'ed for part timers.

The original (European) rule was for a minimum of 4 weeks. Bank holdays were ignored, possibly because many European countries already had bank holiday provision. After enacting the provision the UK eventually extended it to be 4 weeks plus 8 days, so 5.6 weeks on a 5 day week. We have 8 bank holidays.

As an aside, some people work more than 5 days a week and one would have expected they would need at least as much holiday as those who work fewer days per week. But the maximum statutory minimum entitlement is 28 days so an employer who insists on 6 days work per week only has to give 4.666666666666 weeks' holiday.

 

[lesliedocherty]

Year ago we asked the staff did they want 20 days plus the 8 publics or 28 days holiday, they all wanted 28 days holiday.
Then later on we wanted to really manage when holidays were taken, have blackout periods, have holidays taken at certain times, 1 off at a time etc, asked the staff if we increase to 30 days holiday would they be ok with it, everyone agreed to it with no fuss.

Tends to be consultation and the willingness to listen to the staff brings a more fruitful outcome

 

[Newchodge]

Tends to be consultation and the willingness to listen to the staff brings a more fruitful outcome

Absolutely, seeing staff as people always helps!