12 September 2022

Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II passed away on 08 September 22 at the age of 96 years old. For over 70 years, she served the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth with grace and selfless devotion. The Royal family and its Government have announced a period of national mourning, with the funeral taking place on Monday, 19 September 2022, which will be a national bank holiday.

This will allow individuals, businesses and other organisations to pay their respects to Her Majesty and commemorate Her reign while marking the final day of the period of national mourning.

The bank holiday will be a unique national moment, and we encourage employers to respond sensitively to requests from workers who wish to take time off.

This update covers time off leave entitlement for the bank holiday:

  • Additional day of leave – what the law says
  • Contracts of employment wording
  • What NHBF Contract of employment states
  • Closing as a mark of respect 
  • Get clarity over your contracts


An additional day of leave – what the law says?

There is no statutory right to time off on any public holiday. Therefore, the entitlement to additional leave for the national bank holiday will depend on the specific wording of your contracts of employment.

For Members only - Click for National Bank holiday for Queens funeral FAQ’s


Do your contracts of employment include wording similar to the following?

“You are entitled to [number] days’ paid holiday each year. In addition, you are entitled to take public holidays”.

Your employees will be entitled to benefit and be paid for the additional day of leave.


If you use the NHBF contracts, the holiday clause states:

“You are entitled to [number] days’ holiday during each holiday year. This is inclusive of any of the normal public holidays that you are permitted to take. The Salon recognises the below public holidays…”.

The contract states explicitly that the employee’s holiday entitlement includes any normal public holidays and then list the specific ones the employee will be entitled to; there will be no entitlement to the additional day off. Download Contract of Employment. 


Closing as a mark of respect 

If, as a mark of respect, you plan to close your business and your employees are not entitled to the additional time off, your options will be to:

• Give notice to the employees that they are required to use a day of their normal annual leave entitlement on that specific date. It would be best practice to confirm this in writing; or

• Allow the additional paid day holiday as a discretionary gesture. 

 

Get clarity over your contracts

If you would like assistance understanding your employment contracts, contact the NHBF Membership team on 01234 831965 for friendly advice and support.

 

More from the NHBF 

The NHBF is here for you. Members can call our friendly membership team for expert help and advice and also benefit from 24/7 access to our legal and commercial helpline. 

This NHBF fact sheet is for information and guidance only and is not a substitute for legal or professional advice. This information is correct at the time of writing. September 2022.