Thousands of Dumfries and Galloway Council employees are expected to be granted a bonus day off work in May to mark the King’s coronation.
This will be the third additional day off in just 11 months following the Queen’s Jubilee celebrations on June 3 and then September 19 being marked as a national day of mourning for Her Majesty’s state funeral.
Both the UK and Scottish Governments have announced an additional bank holiday on Monday, May 8 in honour of King Charles on his coronation day.
However, it is down to each council across the country to determine whether or not they will approve the extra leave for staff – or royally refuse.
The matter will be discussed at the full council meeting next week where officers have put forward two basic recommendations – to not recognise the holiday or grant a one-off additional leave day on May 8.
In a report for the meeting, officer’s wrote: “The council may not wish to recognise the additional bank holiday and treat the day as a normal working day.
“Employees could take leave, where possible, in the normal way if they wished to take the time off. This option may result in an adverse reaction from employees and trade unions, particularly given the significant efforts of the council workforce throughout recent turbulence and challenging times, e.g. the Covid-19 pandemic.
“This would also be out of step of many other Scottish councils who have agreed to support the celebrations on Monday, May 8. In agreeing to support the celebrations most Scottish councils have provided an extra day of fixed annual leave.”
Option two is to approve the day’s leave – which would be in line with most, if not all, other councils.
The local authority will still require a skeleton staff to be in place during the King’s coronation to provide essential services, however these employees would be given a day in lieu which could be taken at a later date.
The report continues: “Legislation ensures that part-time employees are not treated less favourably than their full-time colleagues and as such would be entitled to this extra leave on a pro-rata basis – only if they are scheduled to work on that day.”
Councillors will make the final decision at the full council meeting next Tuesday.
