MORE than a quarter (29%) of Brits will be off work this week as they make the most of the Easter and Royal Wedding break, a survey has found.
Workplaces across Britain are like a ghost town as workers take a break between Easter and the Royal Wedding, according to new research from InvisibleHand, a free-to-download online shopping tool.
Thousands of workers denied time off for Royal Wedding, according to Citizens Advice.
Most of those losing out on the statutory minimum paid holiday entitlement of 20 days plus bank holidays are doing unglamorous but essential jobs in small, non-unionised workplaces such as care homes, hairdressers, bars, restaurants, hotels and shops. Others work in building and decorating, clothing and food processing factories, or contract cleaning. The majority are women, many juggling part-time work with family commitments.
The report finds that while some non-compliance stems from a lack of awareness and understanding of the law, much appears to be deliberate, with rogue employers using a range of excuses to avoid meeting their legal obligations to their workforce.
While the lucky ones are busy relaxing, two thirds of workers (64%) have been left ‘manning the fort’. For over one in ten (12%) the extended break is a complete headache as they struggle to provide adequate cover and support.
Robin Landy, founder of InvisibleHand, said: “With one in four workers taking time off this week, Britain’s workplaces are going to feel like a ghost town.
Government helped workers who would not otherwise get any time off for bank holidays by increasing the national minimum statutory paid annual leave entitlement from 4 weeks to 5.6 weeks, and stipulating that the increased entitlement included bank holidays. But no provision was made to increase this entitlement in years when a special bank holiday is called, leaving workers to rely on their employers to choose to offer an extra day's leave or overtime for those that need to work.
There is still time for employers to do the right thing and give staff paid leave on 29 April, says the TUC.
But for those who are working on the royal wedding bank holiday, including retail and emergency services staff, the TUC believes that employers should offer an extra day's leave and their contracted overtime rate.
