A salon manager's guide to the diamond jubilee

It's official that the Jubilee will take place on Tuesday 5 June 2012 and the late May Bank Holiday which normally takes place on the last Monday in May has been moved to Monday 4 June. 

If your contract states employees receive 28 days including bank holidays, then you don't have to give an extra day as you are meeting the legal minimum of 28 days.

If you decide to close, then staff who would normally work that day will be paid but will use a day's holiday. It means they will only have 19 days to take if you are closed on the nine bank holidays in 2012/13.

Of course, you are also free to decide if you are going to close and give your staff a one-off extra day's holidays this year.

If your contracts state that staff get 20 days plus bank holidays, I am afraid you are contractually obliged to recognise the holiday, it means the staff effectively get 29 days holiday.

Once again, it really depends what your contract says, but normally part-time staff do not receive payment or a lieu day for bank holidays when they are not scheduled to work. It is good practice to give part-time staff their annual holiday entitlement in hours and this would include bank holidays. 

It is a bank holiday and normally the Local Authority has fairly standard regulations regarding opening hours. I know that in the licensing trade landlords are expecting bumper trade and have been canvassing for opening hours to be extended.

It's really a matter of assessing the customer demand to open for the day or even a half a day and if you are planning any special promotion to coincide with the day. You might also want to discuss your plans with neighbouring retailers to see if you can link up for any celebratory promotions.

A member of staff has said she isn't willing to work on the day of the Jubilee as she is planning a street party. She has said she will work if she is paid double time.

There is no legal right to enhanced pay on a bank holiday.  A salon owner might decide on a higher rate on a bank holiday or a weekend, but it would be entirely their choice and would be detailed in their contract of employment.

If you decide to open and the Jubilee day falls on the employee's normal working day then they are not in a position to refuse to work or demand a higher rate of pay. The employee could request, but not demand holidays. It is interesting that the employee was quite happy to forget about the street party if she is paid more for doing so.

Employees on maternity leave receive the same benefits as staff who are working. Therefore, if the remaining staff benefit from an extra days leave because of the Bank Holiday, then the staff on maternity leave should benefit similarly and have an extra day's leave added to their holiday entitlement.

Yes the additional Bank Holiday applies in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.