bank holidays

[dymo55]

is it compulsary to work bank holidays just been informed firm is working new years day

[factor-fiction]

If the contract allows for it, or has been changed in the correct way so as to allow it, then the company can expect you to work on New Year's Day. Is there a union you can check with? But they may not require everyone to work so you could ask to take it as a holiday and you might be lucky.

[buildersmate]

The legal position is stated here.
http://www.adviceguide.org.uk/index/life/emplo yment/bank_and_public_holidays.htm
It's kind of the other way around to what F30 says. The employer is not obliged to offer you the public holidays as non-working days, but your contract may say something that does entitle you to the time off. Then, as F30 says, if such a contractual element has in the past allowed for time-off, the employer (following consultation) could change that entitlement for 2009/10.
You could apply to take that day off, as part of your annual leave.

[factor-fiction]

Hi Buidersmate- I assumed dymo55 was saying his company doesn't normally work New Years Day but has decided that it will do next year, and so he wants to know whether he can be forced to work it.
I didn't read it as a problem about calculating overall holiday entitlements and how bank holidays are treated for holiday calculation purposes.

[buildersmate]

Yes, on reflection you are probably right. So if it's been custom-and-practice for staff not to work that day, that sounds like a change in contract terms to me. So needs prior consultation, not unilateral change by employer.