Public Holidays in Ireland, Luxembourg and the UK for 2024

As we delve in 2024, it is important to stay informed about the upcoming public holidays. Below, we have provided a detailed overview of the public holidays in Dublin, Luxembourg and the UK. Being aware of these dates is key to effectively shaping your calendar and planning the year ahead.

Public Holidays in Ireland in 2024

• 1 January - New Year's Day

• 5 February - St Brigid’s Day

• 17 March - Saint Patrick's Day

• 1 April - Easter Monday

• 6 May - May Day

• 3 June - June Bank Holiday

• 5 August - August Bank Holiday

• 28 October - October Bank Holiday

• 25 December - Christmas Day

• 26 December - St Stephen's Day

Entitlements

In Ireland most employees are entitled to leave on public holidays. Full-time workers have immediate entitlement to a benefit for public holidays and part-time workers have entitlement to a benefit when they have worked a total of 40 hours in the previous 5 weeks, and it falls on a day that they usually work. 

As there are some workplaces which are not able to provide a day off, if your employee qualifies for a public holiday benefit, then they’ll be entitled to one of the following options: 

• A paid day off on the public holiday

• An additional day of annual leave

• An additional day’s pay

• A paid day off within a month of the public holiday

For part-time employees, if they do not normally work on the day which is a public holiday, then they should get paid one-fifth of their weekly pay as compensation for the public holiday.

Public Holidays in Luxembourg in 2024

• 1 January - New Year's Day

• 1 April - Easter Monday

• 1 May - Labour Day

• 9 May - Ascension Day / Europe Day

• 20 May - Whit Monday

• 23 June - National Day

• 15 August - Assumption Day

• 1 November - All Saints' Day

• 25 December - Christmas Day

• 26 December – Second day of Christmas

There is a total of 11 public holidays in Luxembourg. Among them, 8 have a fixed date, and 3 are celebrated without fixed dates, This year,  two national holidays will fall on the same date: Europe Day and the Ascension Day on May 9, however employees remain entitled to 2 holiday days.

Entitlements

In Luxembourg, employees are generally entitled to public holidays as mandated by the law. If a public holiday falls on an employee’s normal day off, the employee is allowed a compensatory paid day of leave, which must be used within three months of the holiday. With permission from an employer, salaried workers in Luxembourg are permitted to celebrate a local or business holiday in lieu of an official public holiday. The law simply provides that every employee shall receive 11 paid holidays per year.

Salaried workers, especially in the financial and banking sectors may be granted additional holidays during bank closures, such as Good Friday. These additional holidays are generally set forth in an employment contract or collective bargaining agreement.

According to the Labour Code, if a public holiday falls on a weekend, employees in the banking industry are entitled to a compensatory day off. Some banks offer a salary premium, depending on the terms set forth in an employment agreement.

If an employee is required to work on a public holiday, additional compensation, known as a premium, must be paid by the employer. The amount of the premium varies, depending on the day of the week the employee is required to work and the established regular work schedule. If an employee works on a public holiday on a normal workday, he or she is entitled to regular wages, a 100 percent premium for each hour worked and an extra day of leave. Salary premiums paid for work performed on public holidays are tax-exempt. 

Public Holidays in the UK in 2024

• 1 January - New Year’s Day

• 29 March - Good Friday

• 1 April - Easter Monday

• 6 May - Early May Bank Holiday

• 27 May - Spring Bank Holiday

• 26 August - Summer Bank Holiday

• 25 December - Christmas Day

• 26 December - Boxing Day

Entitlements

In the UK, Employees do not possess statutory rights to bank holidays. Employers have the discretion to decide whether UK bank holidays in 2024 are included in an employee’s statutory annual leave or offered as unpaid time off, in accordance with Section 1 of the Employment Rights Act 1996.

Employers can require their employees to work on a bank holiday, as long as their request is in line with the terms of their employment. In such a situation, employees cannot refuse to work.

Whether you are managing teams, coordinating logistics or planning marketing campaigns, staying attuned to the public holiday calendar in Ireland, Luxembourg and the UK is indispensable. Integrating this knowledge into your business strategy will provide you with greater efficiency and seamless engagement with the local environment.

For further information on the obligations of employers and entitlements of employees in relation to public holidays, please contact Henry Barrett.