Dealing with the Holiday Season again – statutory holidays
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September 9th, 2005
With the holiday season approaching one of the decisions
all businesses have to make is how to deal with statutory holidays.
While some bars and restaurants close with the added cost of
staffing, others just wear the added cost and enjoy the extra
customers that come in when local competition is closed. Some
restaurants add a 15% surcharge for service on a statutory holiday
while other restaurants just budget for the statutory holidays
in the overall cost of labour. The other issue that has to be
managed carefully is how to pay staff for statutory holidays.
It is quite simple really. If a staff member usually works that
day then they are entitled to statutory holiday pay even if
your establishment is closed. If they work on that day they
are entitled to statutory holiday pay rates and a day in lieu.
If a staff member does not usually work that day and they don’t
work it then there is no entitlement to pay. Casual staff do
not get paid for statutory holidays that they do not work.
It is a good idea to get staff to agree a few weeks in advance
on who will work any statutory holidays.