Can you be paid on a Bank Holiday?

We’re all very excited this year because, of course, we have King Charles III’s Coronation coming up in May. Who doesn’t love an extra Bank Holiday! But, this has put in mind a question we get asked a lot as accountants. Can you be paid on a Bank Holiday? Here’s the answer!

Whether you can be paid on a bank holiday depends on your employment contract and the nature of your work!

In the UK, there is no legal requirement for employers to pay their workers on bank holidays. However, this is not to say that some won’t choose to do so. If your employment contract states that you are entitled to be paid on bank holidays, then you should receive your normal pay for these days. But, if your employment contract doesn’t mention them, then you likely won’t be entitled to be paid for bank holidays.

Where does enhanced pay or time off in lieu come into it?

If you work on a bank holiday, you may be entitled to receive enhanced pay or time off in lieu. This depends on your employment contract and the agreement between you and your employer. Some employees, such as those in the retail or hospitality industries, may be required to work on bank holidays. They may subsequently receive a higher rate of pay as compensation.

For workers who are entitled to statutory leave, bank holidays are treated as public holidays and are included as part of the minimum 28 days’ annual leave required by law. This means that if you work on a bank holiday, you may be entitled to time off in lieu or an alternative day off at a later date.

So, what is the verdict…

In short, whether you can be paid on a bank holiday depends on the terms of your employment contract. If your contract does not mention bank holidays, you may not be entitled to receive pay for these days. However, if you work on a bank holiday, you may be entitled to enhanced pay or time off in lieu, depending on your employment contract and the agreement between you and your employer. If you have any questions about your rights and entitlements on bank holidays, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with us.

As always, you can call us on 01243 782 423, or email us from our contact page and someone will be in touch!

We also update our YouTube Channel regularly with new content, see here: Lewis Brownlee YouTube channel