PUBLIC HOLIDAY QUERY

    A LARGE NUMBER OF RETAIL BUSINESSES HAVE BEEN QUERING

(A) WHETHER MONDAY THE 19TH MARCH IS A BANK HOLIDAY ALONG WITH SAT 17TH,              AND

(B) IF THEY SHOULD CLOSE OR OPEN ON THESE DAYS     AND

(C)  WHAT ARE OTHER RETAIL BUSINESSES IN BANTRY DOING ON THESE DAYS

                TO CLARIFY THE FIRST QUERY,

• SATURDAY 17TH MARCH IS A PUBLIC HOLIDAY.                  
• MONDAY 19TH IS AN ORDINARY WORKING DAY,
• HOWEVER IN CERTAIN SECTORS                                                                 (ie: accountants, solicitors,                  banks –

business who do not normally open for business on Saturdays)

THIS DAY WILL BE TAKEN IN LIEU OF SAINT PATRICKS DAY.

( A PUBLIC HOLIDAY IS A STATUTORY ENTITLEMENT AS SET OUT IN THE “ORGANISATION OF WORKING TIME ACT 1997”).

IN RESPECT OF EACH PUBLIC HOLIDAY AN EMPLOYEE’S ENTITLEMENT IS:           A PAID DAY OFF ON THE PUBLIC HOLIDAY or

• A PAID DAY OFF WITHIN A MONTH  or
• AN EXTRA DAY’S ANNUAL LEAVE  or
• AN EXTRA DAY’S PAY

THE FOLLOWING EMPLOYEES ARE ENTITLED TO PUBLIC HOLIDAYS

• ALL FULL TIME EMPLOYEES ARE ENTITLED TO PUBLIC HOLIDAY BENEFITS
• PART TIME AND CASUAL EMPLOYEES WHO HAVE WORKED AT LEAST 40 HOURS IN THE FIVE WEEKS ENDING ON THE DAY BEFORE THE PUBLIC HOLIDAY ARE ALSO ENTITLED TO PUBLIC HOLIDAY BENEFITS.

QUERY B.

EACH BUSINESS MUST MAKE A COMMERCIAL DECISION ON THE DAYS THEY OPEN AND CLOSE. THEY MUST ALSO ACKNOWLEDGE THE ENTITLEMENTS OF THEIR EMPLOYEES

QUERY C:

CAN BUSINESSES WHO HAVE DECIDED PLEASE RESPOND WITH WHAT OPENING HOURS THEY HAVE PLANNED FOR ST PATRICKS WEEKEND. THIS WILL HELP OTHER BUSINESSES TO MAKE A DECISION