bank holidays and part time workers

JACKBANTREE · PayPerShop Newbie Joined: 08 Feb 2008 Posts: 1

I worked for the hsbc which was sold onto ipsl under a tupe agreement. as the hsbc adopted the european contract for bank holidays which were pro rata in 2002 we were given the opportunity to either stay as we were or to go on the new contract. those who worked part time which included a monday were worse off on this contract and did not join but it was said that if you changed your hours or were promoted that the new contract would come into force. i understand that on a pro rata basis an employee who works monday and does not do 5 days a week with each day being the same number of hours will loose out on days off a full timer gets a day off every bank holiday where as some one who works 3 part days a week will only get 1/5 of there working week and will have to take the remaining hours from their holiday allowance but if some part timers who have not had to go onto this contract are still receiving a full day off is this not discrimination under the age discrimination act as anyone who now joins on a part time basis will have no option but to go onto the pro rata bank holidays Sad

Ian Congreave

I think everyone has been avoiding this question because it is too difficult!

The first point to make is that, under the new statutory holiday provisions from October 2007, part timers are entitled to 4.8 weeks paid holiday, excluding bank holidays. So, if you are working 3 days each week, you are entitled to 14.4 paid days holiday in each holiday year - in addition to any bank holidays. Or, if you work different hours on each day, say 20 hours altogether in a week, you are entitled to 96 hours holiday in each holiday year, plus bank holidays.

The issues you raise about bank holidays, particularly those that fall on a Monday, are contractual matters and must be handled by employers so that they do not discriminate against part timers, when compared with how full timers are treated. There are many complex methods used by employers, most, in my experience, too complicated for me to understand, never mind the staff! If you feel that your employer's approach to this is not fair, you must talk to your employer first of all and try to understand how the arrangements work. If you still feel the arrangements are not reasonable, you should visit your local Citizens Advice Bureau for further guidance.
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Ian Congreave, PayPerShop owner

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