How should bank holidays be paid?
Sarah Martinez
Updated on April 24, 2026
Bank or public holidays do not have to be given as paid leave. An employer can choose to include bank holidays as part of a worker's statutory annual leave.
Correspondingly, can wages be paid on a bank holiday?
There is no law that says you have to pay employees the day before a bank holiday. However, there are some laws that could regulate when you pay employees.
Also, do you get paid SSP on bank holidays? The Bank Holiday that has not been taken will be transferred back in to the employee's holiday entitlement. If the employee, however, requests to take the 2 days as holiday, no SSP will be paid on the 2 days. SSP and holiday pay cannot be paid at the same time.
People also ask, what happens if a bank holiday falls on a day I don't work?
Your employer can control when you take your holiday so they can make you take bank holidays from this entitlement when they coincide with your working days. For example, if you don't work Mondays (the day when most bank holidays fall) then you must be allowed to take the leave at another time.
Do transactions go through on bank holidays?
On bank holidays, most transactions come to a complete halt. If banks are closed for a holiday or the weekend, they cannot process or transfer funds on your intended payroll date. Most banks and credit unions will be closed.
Related Question Answers
Is a bank holiday classed as a working day?
There is no general legal right to time off on bank holidays, though it is a common practice to give time off. Many people have the right to bank holidays written into their contract with their employer. But if you don't have this, employers can require you to work on public holidays.Can I be sacked for not working Christmas Day?
Check your employment contractHowever, if Christmas Day falls on one of your normal working days, and your employer opens for business on public holidays and expects you to work, then you are likely to be contractually obliged to work unless you have been granted annual leave.