Benefits & Holidays

People living and working in the UK receive medical help from the NHS paid via their National Insurance contributions. Because of this most employees will not have private health insurance through their employer.

Holiday entitlement varies from company to company but most employees have 20-25 holidays per year.

In addition to this, most people will have between eight and ten bank holidays (Christmas, Easter, etc). However, as bank holidays are not obligatory it is best to check with your employer.

Bank holidays

Bank holidays are public holidays in the UK and in the Republic of Ireland. The name ‘Bank holiday’ comes from the old days when no other businesses could operate because the banks were closed for business.

As it is, there is no right to time off on these days, even though the majority of the population not employed in essential services receive them as holidays. The people employed in essential services usually receive extra pay or lieu days for working.

Bank & Public Holidays

The people of the UK have between eighth and ten bank and public holidays each year. The number of days depends on where you live.

The days were traditionally found around important days the Christian calendar, but this has changed during the nineteenth century. Today, bank holidays that fall on a weekend are shifted to the first coming working day. This way, public holidays are not 'lost' in years when they coincide with weekends.

Take a look at the list below to learn about the different holidays. To see the actual dates for the next three years go to the next page.