Working Good Friday

cisco

Registered User
Messages
35
Iv been with the same company for 15 years, in all that time we had
Good Friday off. This was never deducted from the annual leave, it was more like a bank holiday.
This year the company says it will be deducted from the annual leave if anybody takes the day off.
Do we have any right to have the day off as its been company policy up to now.
 
Presumably you already know that Good Friday is a bank holiday but not a public holiday? You have no statutory entitlement to it as a paid day off anyway. Not sure if you can claim entitlement to it on a contractual basis based on what happened in the past. I suspect not.
 
Just to let you know, in twenty years of employment I have never had good friday off.
 
Ive been in the same company 11 years, same situation as OP, always had Good Friday off. This year it has been announced that some cover is needed for Good Friday and if you work it you get a day in lieu (as though you worked a saturday). Ive offered to do it because it will only be a short day, office staff will head off 3ish, so it makes more sense to me to work the short day and get a day in lieu for it than not.
 
As has already been stated Good Friday is a Bank holiday not Public Holiday therefore you have no statutory entitlement. 'Custom and practise' might a route to follow up.

Check out your contract. Any changes should be notified and agreed.
 
Of all years, 2008 is the one to have Good Friday off.
The Monday of that week is St. Patrick's day.
Take Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday off as holidays.
The Friday is Good, and Monday is the Easter Bank Holiday.
That's ten days on the trot, yet only three days off your annual leave. Jackpot

It's like Christmas in Springtime, yippee, happy days. And lamb tastes better than turkey.

Apologies if I'm going off the point a little.
 

Good idea!!
 
As previous posts have clearly said Good Friday is not a public holiday but custom and practice does carry a significant weight- and the practice of having it off has been happening for long period. Is there any wording in your contract or handbook etc about it being granted on a discretionary basis and company reserving the right not to grant it ?
 
Many employments (even in the Public Service!) work Good Friday as an ordinary Friday. I know some health professionals who get a half hour off to attend Good Friday devotions if they wish.
 
I'd like an hour off for my Good Friday devotions. Unfortunately the law insists that my place of worship remains closed on this day...