Holiday entitlements over Christmas

Any employee who missed out on the early rush to book Christmas time off is now likely to have little chance of enjoying an extended festive break.

With Christmas Day falling on a Thursday and Boxing Day on a Friday, many workers who get bank holidays off and do not work weekends can still look forward to a mini four-day break - and long weekend at New Year.

Bank or public holidays do not have to be given as paid leave. Some companies will offer the option of working over Christmas or the New Year.

But for those working during the Christmas period, before you start to worry about what present Auntie So-and-so has got you, it may be worth having a closer look at your employment contract.

There are employees willing, eager and keen to cash in and show up for work on Christmas Day and bank holidays. Many employers will pay an enhanced rate such as ‘double time’ or ‘time-and-a-half’ for working those days.

However an employee has no statutory right to enhanced pay for working on public holidays, and the employment contract should clarify this.