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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Part time workers and bank holidays. Fair or unfair?

528 replies

crunchiesnuts · 18/02/2026 16:01

I know that it’s completely legal and up to the employer, but I’m just curious about what people think about this.

I’m part of a small team (there are 7 of us in total). Everyone works full time, 5 days a week, except for one person who is part time, working 3 days a week. This person works Monday-Wednesday. When there’s a bank holiday, they switch their days and work from Tuesday to Thursday instead. Like I said, I know this is all above board and our manager is fine with it, but the rest of the team feels it’s a bit unfair since they don’t have a say and have to use their annual leave regardless.

I’m kind of torn on it. I know this person asked to work Mondays when she took the job, so it feels a bit like having the best of both worlds, but I also get not wanting to burn through almost all your annual leave just for the bank holidays. Recently, this person has mentioned how she doesn’t complain about the fact that the rest of us get more holidays and better pay (which is a bit confusing since we work more hours, so naturally, we would), but it’s stirred up some tension in the office, and I guess, some people think she’s rubbing it in their face. I’m just interested in hearing what others think. Even though it’s legal, do you see it as fair or unfair?

OP posts:
VeterinaryCareAssistant · 25/02/2026 08:57

mindutopia · 18/02/2026 16:08

I guess I’m not really understanding. So on weeks there is a bank holiday, she takes her days off on Monday/Friday and works Tuesday to Thursday instead? So still 3 days. On normal weeks, she works Monday to Wednesday, also 3 days, with Thursday/Friday off. Is that not pretty much the same?

Are you all having to use annual leave somewhere? Our employees get bank holidays off, paid, they don’t need to use annual leave. It would be great if they worked Tuesday to Thursday as we wouldn’t lose a day of work and the time off is the same.

Some organisations make you either take bank holidays unpaid or use up a day of your annual leave.

So if you have , for example, 200 hours al then you have to deduct all the bank holidays out of that.

TheAngryPuxie · 25/02/2026 19:07

topcat2014 · 25/02/2026 08:04

But there are no special exemptions for schools from employment law. Sounds like you were being done over

Independent Schools get away with a lot of things. I don't think they care about employnrnt law or anything else in my experience!

Bromptotoo · 26/02/2026 10:03

VeterinaryCareAssistant · 25/02/2026 08:57

Some organisations make you either take bank holidays unpaid or use up a day of your annual leave.

So if you have , for example, 200 hours al then you have to deduct all the bank holidays out of that.

Edited

Employers have allow circa 5 weeks leave but can include Bank Holidays in that. Commonplace I think.

Doesn't make much difference to the principle here which is about how Bank Holidays count for part time staff (or others not conditioned to a full week of equal length days.

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