Boxing Day /Bank Holiday

[chocolatefan]

I work for a large supermarket. Boxing Day falls on a Saturday in 2009. The Bank Holiday is deemed to fall on Monday 28th December 2009. The supermarket has decided to designate 26/12/2009 as the Bank Holiday and 28/12/2009 as a normal working day. Employees will not therefore be paid premium rates for working on Monday 28th.Isn't a Bank Holiday when BANKS are closed ie Monday? Can they do this?

[Rollo]

28th December 2009 is an official Bank Holiday throughout the UK.

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Governmentcitizens andrights/LivingintheUK/DG_073741

[chocolatefan]

Thanks for that.

[hc4361]

Yes, they can do it.
You do not have a statutory right to paid leave on bank and public holidays. If your employer gives paid leave on a bank or public holiday, this can count towards your minimum holiday entitlement. There are eight permanent bank and public holidays in England and Wales (nine in Scotland and ten in Northern Ireland).

If you work on a bank or public holiday, there is no automatic right to an enhanced pay rate. What you get paid depends on your contract of employment.

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Employment/Employe es/Timeoffandholidays/DG_10029788

[Mr Veritas]

Further to hc's answer.
There is no statutory right to increased salary for the following:~
Overtime
Night Shifts
Bank Holidays
Public Holidays.
None of the above attract extra payments unless such are SPECIFICALLY mentioned in your Contract of Employment.
If it is not mentioned,then an employer can pay you just your basic hourly rate for any of the above if they wish.
Sorry if this is stating the obvious to some people,but others are under the impression that extra wages should be forthcoming,when they are not.

[Maydup]

I work for a company who are doing the same. It does sound upside down, but if they paid the premium rate on the Monday then all those working on 26th would be get normal working rates and that wouldbe worse. So for us,the premium ispaid on the Saturday, unless that is your day foff that week, in which case the premium is paid on Monday. I work Mon-Fri so will not be in on either day, but those going in on the 26th diserve the premium rate inmy mind unlike BANKS who will be closed.

[DerekT]

The whole idea for paying premium rate for bank holidays is to compensate those
rostered to work on these days and not for those who work mon - fri. I would rather
have been at home on Boxing day with my family instead of working for single time.
This year 2010 xmas day and boxing day will be on saturday/sunday. All those who
work a normal mon -fri job will be at home with their families to enjoy the festivities and
then go back to work for premium rate hours on the mon - tues. Whoever decided
this may want to think again as I believe it may come back to haunt them.