Spring Time, Public H
oliday Time
Spring-time is synonymous with public holidays, St Patricks Day, Easter, and May Day. Public holidays are statutory days, set out in the Organisation of Working Time Act 1997, and offer the opportunity to relax, unwind, and take-a-break, as such everyone should benefit in someway from a public holiday.
Employee’s Public Holiday Entitlement
All full time employees will be entitled to one of the following in relation to a public holiday:
- a paid day off on the holiday, or
- a paid day off within a month, or
- an extra day’s annual leave, or
- an extra day’s pay
Which option is made available is at the employer’s discretion and will depend on the business needs. However, consistency will be important.
If a public holiday falls on a day on which the employee does not normally work, options b), c), or d) will apply.
There is no service requirement in respect of public holidays for full-time employees.
Part-time Workers
In order for a part-time worker to qualify for public holiday entitlement they must have worked 40 hours in the five weeks immediately prior to the public holiday. Should they meet these criteria their entitlement will be as above.
Public Holiday Pay
Where a public holiday falls on a day which the employee does not normally work, an employee’s daily rate should be calculated as 1/5th of their average normal weekly rate.
Absence from Work & Entitlement
Employees who are absent from work on maternity leave, paternity leave, or adoption leave will retain their public holiday entitlement. Employees who are off sick will also retain their public holiday entitlement, with only some exceptions.
Leavers
Employees who leave employment during the week ending the day before a public holiday, who have worked with you for the previous 4 weeks will have accrued an entitlement to the public holiday, consequently they should be paid an additional day’s pay for the public holiday.
This also applies to part-time employees who have worked at least 40 hours in the previous 5 weeks.