to be upset that my boss is not paying me for the Royal Wedding Bank Holiday

[4everyoung]

My boss said that as I already get 8 paid bank holidays as per my contract he is not obliged to pay me for a 9th one, he said that he cannot afford to give all his staff the day off just because of someones wedding, is he playing fair?

YABU - It is discretionary as to whether you get paid for bank holidays or have to take them as holiday.

Depends on wording of contract - if it says 20 day plus BH then yes he has to pay you for it but if it says 28 days incl BH then no he doesn't. Also therr is no right to the day off at all so if it is a normal working day then you might not be off anyway .....

People who work in hospitals still have to work. You could always take as unpaid leave.

Apparently its not a bank holiday its a public holiday which is meant to be different - not sure what the real difference is though!!

Do you have to take the day off? I mean, is the office closed? Or could you go in nonetheless and work? In which case, presumably, he'd have to pay you? Coz if not, and he is not "allowing" or enabling you to work, then surely that's his decision to shut the office and he ought therefore to pay you.
But I'm no expert.