May Day! Changes announced to Bank Holiday in May 2020

The May Day Bank Holiday, traditionally the first Monday in May, will be moved forward four days next year in order to coincide with the 75th anniversary of VE Day. The May Day Bank Holiday will now be on Friday 8th May 2020.

VE Day (Victory in Europe Day) commemorates the Allies accepting the surrender of Nazi Germany in the Second World War on 8th May 1945. This is not the first time that the Bank Holiday has been moved for this reason; in 1995 the Monday Bank Holiday was moved to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of VE Day.

The new May Day Bank holiday that would usually fall on a Monday will be observed in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. Scotland have not confirmed they will be moving their May Day Bank Holiday as this is a decision for its own Parliament in Holyrood.
Currently, workers in the UK are entitled to the following holiday entitlement:

• 28 days a year paid holiday (which can include Public Holidays) if they work full time for 5 days a week.
• Part time workers are entitled to the same level of holiday pro rata. If you work casual hours, holiday is calculated at the rate of 12.07% of each hour worked.
• In the case of The Harpur Trust v Brazel, a part-year worker is entitled to holiday based on a full 5.6 week entitlement.

If you require clarification on any parts of your Employment Contract call us today on 01908 660966 to book an appointment with Ben Stanton, Associate Partner and Employment Solicitor here at Franklins Solicitors LLP or email Ben at ben.stanton@franklins-sols.co.uk.