Can you get double pay for working on a bank holiday? Your rights explained

MILLIONS of people could get an extra day off work following the death of Queen Elizabeth.

The monarch died last week, with her state funeral set to be held on September 19 as the nation mourns her loss.

AFP - Getty

You could be entitled to a day off work on September 19[/caption]

Following King Charles III declaring the day a bank holiday for households in the UK, all schools will close, as will many businesses.

But if you are working on the day of the funeral, you might be wondering whether you’re entitled to double pay. Below, we explain all.

Will I be paid double on a bank holiday?

The simple answer is it depends on your employer.

Some bosses might offer you extra pay if you work on a bank holiday – but it’s worth checking your contract to find out.

Either way, there’s no legal requirement for employers to pay you double for working across a bank holiday.

There’s also no statutory right to the day off.

If you want to take a look at your contract but don’t know how, you can always contact the HR department in your company.

Failing that, you could speak to your boss or line manager who will be able to help.

Can I refuse to work on a bank holiday?

This should be detailed in your contract, which will explain out rules about working on bank holidays.

Look for wording like “holidays”, “holiday entitlement” or “annual leave”.

Whatever your contract says about working bank holidays, your employer has a legal duty to abide by it.

If they don’t, you should speak to them immediately.

If your contract doesn’t say anything about bank holidays, ask your employer what their rules are.

If you work in a sector that’s typically open on bank holiday, like hospitality, and your contract includes weekend work, you would have to book the day as annual leave.

What other bank holidays are there left in the year?

After September 19, there are only a few bank holidays left in the year. They are:

• November 30 – St Andrew’s Day (Scotland only)
• December 26 – Boxing Day
• December 27 – Christmas Day