Scotland is due to get a new bank holiday in 2026 to mark its men’s national team playing in the 2026 World Cup. Leading HR advisory firm BrightHR warns of the various HR implications that could arise if the King grants the additional bank holiday.
Alan Price, CEO of BrightHR said: “When an extra bank holiday is announced, employers are usually faced with the question; what does this mean for my employees?
“Employers will need to look carefully at their employees’ contracts of employment to determine whether they have a contractual right to have the day off; there is no automatic legal right for employees to have a public/bank holiday off work.
“Exact wording, and therefore exact entitlements, can differ from contract to contract. If a contract in Scotland says employees are entitled to time off on “9 public/bank holidays” per year and lists those days, there is no automatic entitlement to a day off on the additional bank holiday.
“If, however, the contract says employees are entitled to paid leave on “all public/bank holidays” in a leave year, then they will have a contractual entitlement to the extra day.
“Even where contracts do not entitle employees to the day off, employers may choose to offer it as a paid day of leave anyway. If they are not closing on the day, employers can ask employees who want the day off to make a request in line with the normal annual leave procedure.
“Another thing for employers to consider is that schools will likely be closed on the day, and so employees with school aged children may not be able to arrange childcare. If the business remains open, they may need to work from home, adjust their hours for the day, or take annual or paid/unpaid leave.
“Employers do not have to pay employees who cannot attend work due to childcare, however if alternative arrangements are possible, this would help to maintain good employee relations.
“Whatever decision employers make, it is essential that employers communicate to employees, so they can make appropriate arrangements. After all, it’s been 28 years since Scotland last qualified for the World Cup, so people are going to want to celebrate.”