Christmas and New Year 2011/12

Employees are entitled to up to four public holidays over the festive season, depending on their work or shift pattern.

This year Christmas Day (25 December) and New Year's Day (1 January) fall on a Sunday. Boxing Day (26 December) and the day after New Year's Day (2 January) fall on a Monday.

Monday to Friday workers

As Christmas Day and New Year's Day fall on a Sunday, the holiday is transferred to the following Tuesday (27 December and 3 January).

Boxing Day and the day after New Year's Day will be observed on the days they fall (Monday 26 December and Monday 2 January).

Weekend workers

If you or your employees would normally ** work on the Sunday that Christmas Day and New Year's Day fall on this year, the public holiday is observed on the day it falls (Sunday 25 December and Sunday 1 January). This means the employee is entitled to that day off on pay.

Casual and on-call workers

There will be differences for these workers in when the public holidays are observed. You will need to work out your normal ** working days first.

Note: An employee cannot be entitled to more than four public holidays over the Christmas and New Year period, regardless of their work pattern.

** "an otherwise working day" e.g. When you normally or usually work

Source – Department of Labour