All workers have the Statutory right to the minimum paid holidays per year, which can, but rarely do, include public holidays. An employee is also entitled to reasonable time off for their public duties, but there is no obligation on the part of the employer to pay the employee if he takes time off to perform his public duties. Strangely there is no statutory right to take time off for jury service or as a court witness, though an employer who prevents such attendance would be in contempt of court.
Employees absent from work for extended periods are not entitled to holiday pay for the period they do not work and are liable to be dismissed on the potentially fair grounds of capability or conduct.