Royal Wedding Friday 28th April 2011 - What are your rights?

View the Article: http://www.jobs.co.uk/article/royalweddingfridaythaprilwhatareyourrights-39.htm

With all the hype surrounding the Royal Wedding; street parties, increased security and costs to tax payers' pockets ,we need to spare a thought for those that have to work and those that are forced to take unpaid leave.

Additional public holidays can be declared by law, to celebrate special occasions.  The Royal Wedding is an additional public holiday, however there is no automatic right for employees to take this day off. 

If your employer has a ‘business as usual' approach you can request the day off in-line with your holiday entitlement but your employer does not have to accept it if it's not convenient.  For those of you scheduled to work on the Royal Wedding public holiday, there is no statutory entitlement to additional pay.

Part-time workers are treated the same as full-time workers. If time off is granted to Full-time staff, then part-time staff must receive the same on a pro-rata basis regardless of whether the public holiday falls on a non working day.

Recent released reports suggest the cost of the extra Public Holiday will cost the British Economy around £3bn and we are scheduled to have another additional Public Holiday on 5^th June 2012, in-line with the Queen's Diamond Jubilee next year.

Jobs.co.uk suggests you check your contract and speak to your employer.  Do not automatically assume you have the day off or will get paid at your usual higher bank holiday rate.