Bank Holiday

Definition

A bank holiday is a national public holiday. While the term originally referred to days when banks were closed, today it encompasses all public holidays where most businesses and non-essential services are closed.

Key points

• Types of Bank Holidays:

  • There are eight bank holidays in England and Wales.
  • Scotland has nine bank holidays, and Northern Ireland has ten.
  • Some holidays are common across all regions, while others are specific to a particular nation within the UK.

• Common Bank Holidays:

  • New Year’s Day (1st January)
  • Good Friday
  • Easter Monday
  • Early May bank holiday (usually the first Monday in May)
  • Spring bank holiday (late May or early June)
  • Summer bank holiday (late August or early September)
  • Christmas Day (25th December)
  • Boxing Day (26th December)

• Variations:

  • The dates for some bank holidays, like Easter Monday, can vary slightly from year to year.
  • Additional bank holidays might be declared for special occasions, such as royal weddings or jubilees.

• Trading restrictions:

  • There are restrictions on trading on Sundays, Easter Day, and Christmas Day in England and Wales, and on New Year’s Day and Christmas Day in Scotland.

• Employee rights:

  • There is no automatic right to time off on bank holidays, but most employees are granted a paid day off or receive extra pay for working on a bank holiday, depending on their employment contract.