• Swindon & Wiltshire Experts
• Wednesday November 9 2022
• Author Name: Remy Morland

Should staff be given time off for the King’s coronation?

Do you have to give your staff a day off for the coronation of Charles III? It depends on your contracts of employment, says Remy Morland of the HR Dept Swindon and Wiltshire.

An additional bank holiday has been granted to the whole of the United Kingdom for the coronation of King Charles III.

The government has confirmed that while the coronation will take place on Saturday, May 6, the following Monday, May 8 2023 will be a bank holiday to allow everyone to celebrate the special moment in history of His Majesty taking the throne.

If you are trying to work out whether your employees are entitled to this additional bank holiday, your employment contracts should be your primary reference.

Time off for bank holidays will depend on the way your holiday clause is worded.

• If contracts state “20 days holiday plus bank holidays” you must honour the extra bank holiday.
• If contracts state “20 days holiday plus 8 bank holidays” or “28 days holiday including 8 bank holidays” you are under no obligation to give staff the extra day off. However, you can if you wish.
• If your contract states 5.6 weeks (or more weeks) then it is important to note if the contract also states whether it is inclusive or in addition to the bank holidays.

The same approach you took when dealing with the extra bank holiday for the Queen’s State Funeral in September would be the best route to take.

Remy Morland is head of HR consultancy at HR Dept Swindon and Wiltshire. Visit www.hrdept.co.uk/offices/south-west/swindon