Mourning a Great Monarch

Triangle HR are deeply saddened at the recent loss of our beloved Queen; a truly remarkable and inspirational woman.

As an employer, we wish to allow our team the opportunity to pay their respects as they may wish, and mark the final day of the period of national mourning.  As such, our offices will be closed on Monday 19th September 2022.

Monday 19 September is the date of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II’s State Funeral, and as such has been declared a national bank holiday.  Many individuals, businesses and other organisations will want to pay their respects to Her Majesty and commemorate Her reign, but naturally, employers must understand how this will impact their business and workforce.

There is no statutory obligation for employers to allow time off for bank holidays, however this will be determined by the contractual arrangements in place. For example, if an employment contract provides twenty (20) days holiday plus bank holidays, the employee will be entitled to an additional day’s leave.  However, should the contract state “twenty (20) days plus eight (8) bank holidays, they will not.  Similarly, if the holiday entitlement is stated as ‘including‘ bank holidays, there is no obligation on the employer to provide an additional day’s leave.

In any case, even if your employees are not contractually entitled to the extra bank holiday, you may wish to provide an additional day’s leave in the circumstances.

Holiday entitlement itself, is not the only consideration, as an employment contract may also cover requirements for normal working on bank holidays, and rates of pay or Time Off in Lieu (TOIL) should your employees be required to work on those days.

The Government have outlined their expectation for employers to respond sensitively to requests from workers who wish to take the day of the funeral off work, however employers will need to balance this with the needs of the business, and the legal contract in place.

With the Jubilee celebrations, we have seen two additional bank holidays this year, which means many employers have had to consider their preferences and legal obligations.  With the coronation of King Charles III yet to come, and the possibility of future additional bank holidays, you may wish to consider reviewing and amending existing terms and policies, to reflect the needs and wishes of your business.

Should you require any assistance in relation to the period of national mourning, the additional bank holiday, or amendments to your documents, please don’t hesitate to contact our team on 01743 444007 / 01952 981007, or by email to admin@trianglehr.co.uk.