Leave HackerGuidesPlan my yearDo part-time workers get bank holidays?
Pro rata, whichever days you work
If bank holidays are part of your holiday, you get them pro rata like the rest of it. Your employer can't make you use leave for a bank holiday on a day you don't work. If full-timers get bank holidays on top, part-timers should get them pro rata too, even when they fall on a day off.
Why the day you don't work matters
In 2027, England and Wales's 8 bank holidays fall on 5 Mondays, a Tuesday and 2 Fridays. Two people work three days a week: Ali Monday to Wednesday, Jo Wednesday to Friday. 6 bank holidays land on Ali's days and 2 on Jo's.
If bank holidays are in your allowance
Both get 16.8 days including bank holidays, and the office shuts on bank holidays (Acas's example).
- Ali spends 6 of the 16.8 days on bank holidays: 10.8 left to book.
- Jo spends 2: 14.8 left to book.
If bank holidays come on top
Full-timers get 20 days plus bank holidays, so part-timers on three days get 12 days, pro rata, plus a share of the bank holidays.
- Unfair: giving each of them only the bank holidays that land on their days. Ali would get 18 days off and Jo 14.
- Pro rata: each gets 8 × 3 ÷ 5 = 4.8 days for bank holidays. Ali's 6 bank holidays use that up and 1.2 more comes from leave; Jo gets 2.8 days to book. Both end up with 16.8 days off.
The rules
- Part-time workers can't be treated less favourably than full-timers, so extra days full-timers get should be given to part-timers pro rata.
- Your employer can't make you use leave for a bank holiday on a day you don't usually work (Acas).
Leave Hacker's planner takes your working days and plans around the bank holidays that land on them. Try it with your days.
Sources
- Acas: Bank holidays and Christmas
- Acas: How much holiday someone gets
- nidirect: Holiday entitlements (Northern Ireland)
- gov.uk: Holiday entitlement
Checked on 26 October 2026. This is general information about the legal minimum in the UK, not legal advice: your contract can give you more, and can set its own rules for notice and carrying over. For help with your own situation, call the Acas helpline on 0300 123 1100 (England, Scotland and Wales) or the Labour Relations Agency on 03300 555 300 (Northern Ireland).
More questions
I don't work Mondays. Do I lose out on bank holidays?
You shouldn't, if your employer pro-rates them. Ask HR how bank holidays are worked out for part-timers; it should be in your contract or handbook.
Do part-time workers get paid for bank holidays?
Only for bank holidays that are part of their paid holiday or contract. There's no separate legal right to a paid bank holiday.