Public Holiday

[shortieglyn]

Hi my name is glyn and i am 19 i have been workin for 5 years and this is my first year were i have 2 work the 12th of july. I have been told that because it is a public holiday that by law i am entitled to double time or atleast time and a half is this true and am if sp am I able 2 refuse to work if i do not gat paid this without getting fired

[Lil O'lady]

Glyn, 14th july is the public holiday, in N. ireland only. The organisation you work for determines whether overtime etc is payable - eg some places have a 'buy-out' agreement that gives workers a little extra hourly pay in return for giving up their entitlement to double time etc. So first of all check what your terms and conditions are - your employer cannot refuse to give you this information. This will make it clear when and how you can claim overtime. Similarly it should clarify how you are called on to work - is it a shift pattern, is it regular mon-fri, or what.
Lastly, I know I say it every time, but join a union and then your rep will do this kind of asking for you.

[buildersmate]

There is no obligation on your employer to pay you for leave taken on a public holiday and no obligation either to pay you enhanced rates if you do work. There is a very good Government website that contains a lot of material on statutory employment rights here.
http://direct.gov.uk/en/Employment/Employees/W orkingHoursAndTimeOff/DG_10029788
Lastly I wish Lil would stop peddling joining a Union as the silver bullet solution to all of this stuff. Its far cheaper to look after yourself in employment matters and ask questions on a website like this.

[Lil O'lady]

An interesting use of language there - a view expressed that does not chime with buildersmat's world view becomes 'peddling a silver bullet'. Fascinating.
Unions exist to support the less clever, less literate, less articulate and easily intimidated.
You and I do not fall into this category but many many people do. They do not have to blindly follow union advice but they have a friend when they are in need.
Peddle that.