HM Queen Elizabeth II's State Funeral - managing extra bank holiday

Just for clarification legally are businesses required to give the day off

Technically, it may depend on how you frame you contracts. If they are, for example, that holiday is "24 days, plus public holidays" then you will be contractually obliged to honour public holidays, no matter how many there are.

If, on the other hand, it was "32 days including all public holidays" then any additional public holidays just end up being pre-booked days off out of the existing allowance.

In either case, they still get the day off, but in the former it's a bonus, whereas in the latter, it's just another day out of the allowance.

Finally, if you say "32 days" without any mention of public holidays, you're not contractually obligated to allow the day off at all.

But as Keith points out, this should not really be the deciding factor. Your employees will judge you, culturally, based on how you decide to handle it and this will say something about your organisation and your leadership. You just have to decide whether that something is OK or not.

I wouldn't amend the start day to be honest... but what do others think?

Hi Louise

We've got a new starter on that day too and we're not planning to amend the start date, just have him come in on the Tuesday instead of the Monday

Thank you Emily and Steve. I will leave as is and notify payroll to pay for the Monday.
Louise

Thank you Emily and Steve. I will leave as is and notify payroll to pay for the Monday.
Louise