Am I entitled to holiday/sick pay?

[nailonthehead]

I work part time but for just over a year I have worked an extra regular Saturday as extra duty for my employer covering another store.

As this was a vacant full time position they were actively (unsuccesfully) recruiting for I was told I couldn't temporarily increase my contracted hours to include this day and therefore was not entitled to any holiday or sick pay for this day.

Basically I want to know if this was right.I just feel a bit put upon as the agency worker who covers the other 4 days gets a higher rate of pay as I am just paid my normal contracted rates but not entitled to my normal benefits as I am for my contracted days.

You accrue holiday pay so if you have worked this Saturday on a regular basis you will have accrued the extra holiday.

The directgov website says

Casual or irregular working patterns
If you work casually or irregular hours it may well be easiest to calculate the holiday entitlement that accrues (that is accumulates) as hours are worked. The holiday entitlement of 5.6 weeks is equivalent to 12.07 per cent of the hours you worked. The 12.07 per cent figure is:

5.6 weeks' holiday, divided by 46.4 weeks (being 52 weeks - 5.6 weeks) multiplied by 100 = 12.07 per cent

The 5.6 weeks have to be excluded from the calculation as you would not be present during the 5.6 weeks in order to accrue annual leave. For example, if you had worked 10 hours, you would be entitled to 72.6 minutes' paid holiday:

12.07 per cent x 10 hours = 1.21 hours = 72.6 minutes

The holiday entitlement is just over seven minutes for each hour worked.

Thankyou.This is very helpful.

It just didn't seem right that every Saturday I have had to take off for over a year has been unpaid.