Bank holidays are an important part of your annual leave allowance. To ensure fairness and flexibility, our company has integrated bank holidays into your total leave entitlement. This guide will walk you through the process of managing bank holidays, ensuring you get paid for them, and understanding how they fit into your leave balance.
How Bank Holidays Are Managed
Included in Your Annual Leave Allowance
- All employees have the annual bank holidays included as part of their total leave entitlement. These dates are pre-defined and can be found on the company’s leave calendar.
- Unlike standard annual leave, bank holidays are not automatically deducted. You must actively book them to receive payment.
Flexibility of Bank Holidays
- If you choose not to book a bank holiday, it will not be paid but will remain in your annual leave balance. You can use it as an additional day of leave at another time, subject to manager approval.
Why Booking Bank Holidays Is Important
Bank holidays are treated as part of your annual leave. This means that:
- To be paid for a bank holiday, you must ensure it is booked through the leave system.
- If not booked, the day is preserved in your leave balance, providing flexibility to use it for another purpose.
Failing to book a bank holiday doesn’t mean you lose it; it simply shifts into your available leave days for future use. However, no retrospective payments will be made for unbooked bank holidays.
Step-by-Step Guide to Managing Bank Holidays
Log Into the Leave Booking System
- Access your personal profile on the company’s leave management platform under "my details and Rotas"
Find the Bank Holiday Dates
- Use the company calendar to locate all upcoming bank holidays.
- These dates are typically pre-loaded into the system to make booking easier.
Submit a Leave Request
- Select the bank holiday date you wish to book. Submit your leave request following the usual procedure.
- If the system has any specific requirements for booking bank holidays, follow the outlined steps.
Await Approval
- Once you submit the request, it will be sent for approval by the operations team
- You will receive a notification when your booking has been approved.
Confirmation of Payment
- After approval, the bank holiday will be deducted from your annual leave balance, and payment will be processed with your usual wages.
What Happens If You Don’t Book a Bank Holiday?
Unbooked Bank Holidays
- If you do not book a bank holiday, you will not be paid for that day.
- However, the bank holiday will not be lost. It will remain in your leave balance as an additional day off that you can book at a later date.
Using Unbooked Bank Holidays Later
- You can choose to use the unbooked bank holiday for other occasions, provided it is within the same leave year and approved by your manager.
- Keep in mind that unused leave (including unbooked bank holidays) may not carry over to the next leave year unless otherwise stated in the company’s policies.
No Retrospective Payments
- If you fail to book a bank holiday before the date passes, you will not be paid retroactively for that day.
Key Benefits of This Policy
Flexibility:
Bank holidays can be used as paid time off or reserved for future use, giving you greater control over your work-life balance.Transparency:
All bank holidays are clearly defined in the leave calendar, and you have full visibility of your entitlement.Fairness:
This system ensures equal opportunities for all employees to plan their leave and manage their holiday pay.
Example Scenarios
Scenario 1: Booking and Getting Paid for a Bank Holiday
- Action: You book a bank holiday (e.g., Easter Monday). through the leave management system.
- Outcome: The day is deducted from your balance, and you receive payment as part of your wages.
Scenario 2: Not Booking a Bank Holiday
- Action: You forget to book a bank holiday (e.g., Easter Monday).
- Outcome: You are not paid for the day, but it remains in your balance as an additional leave day for future use.
Scenario 3: Using an Unbooked Bank Holiday Later
- Action: You decide to use an unbooked bank holiday later in the year for personal leave.
- Outcome: The leave is deducted from your balance, and you are paid for the day after approval.
Important Points to Keep in Mind
- Plan Ahead: Ensure you review the calendar and book your bank holidays well in advance to avoid missing out on payment.
- Monitor Your Leave Balance: Keep track of your remaining entitlement, including any unbooked bank holidays.
- Be Aware of Deadlines: Ensure all leave is booked within the leave year to avoid losing entitlement.
- Use Your Flexibility Wisely: Unbooked bank holidays can be a valuable resource for personal or emergency leave.
Support and Assistance
If you have any questions about managing bank holidays or need help with the booking process, the HR team is here to assist.
- Helpdesk Support: Visit the HR portal or reach out on [email protected] or create a ticket
By following this guide, you can ensure you are paid for your bank holidays or make the most of the flexibility they offer. Planning ahead and staying informed will help you maximise your benefits.