First published on Friday, May 8, 2026
Last updated on Friday, May 8, 2026
The Tartan Army is through to the World Cup finals for the first time since 1998! Monday 15th June has been officially confirmed as a bank holiday. It’s welcome news for football fans, as Scotland’s first match kicks off at 2am UK time on Sunday 14th June.
But for business owners in Scotland, it’s not as simple as shutting down for the day and giving everyone an extra day off for the World Cup bank holiday.
Edinburgh City Council have estimated that the bank holiday will cost them £350,000 in lost productivity and additional expenses. With three months to go, four councils have agreed to the bank holiday and 14 have turned it down, with the remainder yet to decide.
But where do small businesses lie? Your staff might not automatically have the right to the extra bank holiday. Here are the questions you need to ask to check your options.
How do your contracts deal with bank holidays?
If your contracts say ‘20 days holiday plus bank holidays’ then your staff are automatically entitled to the extra bank holiday.
But many contracts in Scotland say ‘20 days plus nine bank holidays’ with a list of those holidays (which won’t include this one-off extra holiday on Monday 15th June. If that’s the case for you, then your employees won’t automatically get the extra World Cup bank holiday off.
You could then choose to give your teams the day off, or extra pay for working it, but make sure you do it fairly to avoid claims of discrimination.
Do you have to pay time and a half for bank holidays?
No. Paying more for bank holidays is discretionary, unless it’s in your contracts or annual leave policy. It’s up to you if you pay extra, and how much you decide to pay. Again though, make your policy applicable to all of your employees.
Do part-time staff get bank holidays?
Yes, part-time staff have the right to be treated the same as full-time staff members. But leave and bank holidays are based on the hours they work compared to a full-time staff member, called a pro-rata calculation.
Has anyone already got the day booked off as holiday?
If anyone who’s entitled to the bank holiday has already booked it off, this will need to be amended on your holiday planner. Your BrightHR software will flag any conflicts and clashes and calculate allowances automatically.
What if schools are closed?
If it were a last-minute situation like a snow day, then you’d have to give your employee emergency time off for dependants. This is usually unpaid, but check your contracts.
But this bank holiday, like an inset day, is a planned school closure. Employees will have to arrange childcare, use annual leave, or request unpaid leave. Emergency dependants’ leave would only kick in if their childcare options fell through last-minute.
How can I keep my shifts and rotas in order?
Shifts and rotas software will help you manage employee scheduling, rota planning, and shift assignment. You can notify your teams instantly through the app, and allow them to accept or decline shifts for ultimate flexibility. And if you have a last-minute open shift, you can offer it out and get it filled quickly with real-time notifications.
Got any questions about the extra World Cup bank holiday?
You can ask our AI-powered answer bot BRAINBOX+ any questions you might have about bank holiday entitlements.
And of course, if you’re not sure about the wording of your contracts, need support with your leave policy, or want help calculating pro-rata entitlements, you can speak to a BrightHR advisor. Our UK-based experts are here 24/7 to answer your HR and employment law questions.
