Bank Holidays as part of holiday entitlement

hawkis

Afternoon all.
I've done a search of this section and can't find anything relevant to my question. Which is...
I have been given a new Contract of Employment by my employer and part of the change to the original is that Bank Holidays are part of my overall x days holiday entitlement and as such, must be booked as holiday.
So rather than just having those BH off, I have to book them in advance.
Firstly, this seems odd to me and more like my employer giving themselves the option to refuse me Bank Holidays off. Maybe I'm just a cynic! Perhaps there's some legislation I don't know about.
Secondly, the business is closed on Christmas Day so I couldn't work it even if I wanted to. I pointed this out and asked what would happen if I didn't book it off. I await their answer...
Thirdly, my boss said that this is no different to my original and current CofE but worded differently. In my current version it states "You are entitled to x days annual holiday plus the 8 recognised UK Bank Holidays".
To me, that clearly says that those 8 days are mine to take regardless and no mention of having to book them as holiday.
So I suppose the question is (based on the wording in my current CofE); has the requirement of booking of Bank Holidays been added?

passatrider

We had something similar to this at work recently. I'm entitled to 15 days holiday per year exclusive of Bank Holidays on a part time contract. However, if I want to take the BH as paid leave then it has to come out of my current holiday entitlement. If not then I have to make up my hours during that week if the day of work falls on a BH - we do not currently open on BH's.
However, there are plans to open on a BH in future so my guess is if I want to take that day off then I'll have to put in a request to take that BH as a holiday.

gibson123

We changed to this system very recently, Christmas, New Year and Easter Holidays are fixed but all other holidays are in with your leave.

The staff were consulted about holidays and this was the result, as it means that you can have your leave when you feel like it rather than on the traditional holidays. it is becoming more normal and personally I think it fits in much better with modern lifestyles.

getzls

Northern Ireland here, where we have more bank holidays. 12.

Times when there was a banker i just took it as an unpaid day so i could save my holidays untill i wanted to use them.

falko89

gibson123 wrote: »

We changed to this system very recently, Christmas, New Year and Easter Holidays are fixed but all other holidays are in with your leave.

The staff were consulted about holidays and this was the result, as it means that you can have your leave when you feel like it rather than on the traditional holidays. it is becoming more normal and personally I think it fits in much better with modern lifestyles.

Same set up here. Its hard come a bank holiday and your stuck in work because if you listened to the media your led to believe the entire country is off, when in reality more are at work than are off.

hawkis

So maybe I am just a cynic!

However, do you agree that the wording in my current CofE does not say that I have to book them and that I am entitled to them?

Middy

hawkis wrote: »

Afternoon all.
Secondly, the business is closed on Christmas Day so I couldn't work it even if I wanted to. I pointed this out and asked what would happen if I didn't book it off. I await their answer...

I work in retail and book Christmas Day off if it falls on a day of the week when I work. If I didn't book it off, I still have to work 39 hours from Sunday-Saturday of the week Christmas falls in. I have also booked off Boxing Day as well - as last year the store was open then. This year as the two days after CD&BD are my two days off - I have the luxury of 4 days off at Christmas!

Middy

My contract gives me my annual leave plus the bank holidays - for those who want to book them off. I never book them off as I get paid more to stand and chat with colleagues as after 4pm, the store is dead. Customers presume we are open Sunday hours.

LittleVoice

hawkis wrote: »

So maybe I am just a cynic!

However, do you agree that the wording in my current CofE does not say that I have to book them and that I am entitled to them?

Yes, your original contract said you had the bank holidays and you did not have to book them in advance. That was your employer using their right to tell you when you would have some of your holiday entitlement.

The new contract says if you want them they come off your holiday entitlement and you therefore have to book them. This actually gives you some flexibility if you are able to work on a bank holiday.

As long as your total holiday entitlement has not changed, why are you worried about this? If you want the bank holidays, book them as soon as you are able - you know when the holidays are going to be.

LittleVoice

getzls wrote: »

Northern Ireland here, where we have more bank holidays. 12.

Times when there was a banker i just took it as an unpaid day so i could save my holidays untill i wanted to use them.

I worked in an organisation which gave only statutory holiday entitlement - 20 days at that time, including bank holidays.

Every year one member of staff would take a couple of weeks extra holiday but unpaid. This was actually unfair to the employer (and other staff really) as he really worked for less time in order to "earn" the paid statutory entitlement.

AvadaKedavra

hawkis wrote: »

Afternoon all.
I've done a search of this section and can't find anything relevant to my question. Which is...
I have been given a new Contract of Employment by my employer and part of the change to the original is that Bank Holidays are part of my overall x days holiday entitlement and as such, must be booked as holiday.
So rather than just having those BH off, I have to book them in advance.
Firstly, this seems odd to me and more like my employer giving themselves the option to refuse me Bank Holidays off. Maybe I'm just a cynic! Perhaps there's some legislation I don't know about.
Secondly, the business is closed on Christmas Day so I couldn't work it even if I wanted to. I pointed this out and asked what would happen if I didn't book it off. I await their answer...
Thirdly, my boss said that this is no different to my original and current CofE but worded differently. In my current version it states "You are entitled to x days annual holiday plus the 8 recognised UK Bank Holidays".
To me, that clearly says that those 8 days are mine to take regardless and no mention of having to book them as holiday.
So I suppose the question is (based on the wording in my current CofE); has the requirement of booking of Bank Holidays been added?

Very same thing happened at my work last year, I work 20 hours per week and used to get BH off which I preferred. I queried this and was told that we get the BH's added to our holidays so you just book them in advance if you want them off, we are open everyday inc xmas, however xmas is open for people who volunteer.