Understanding the "One-Fifth" Rule
In Ireland, Public Holiday entitlements are governed by the Organisation of Working Time Act 1997. For part-time workers or those with irregular hours, the calculation relies on a specific retrospective average to ensure fairness.
How to Calculate Holiday for Part Time Workers
If your hours change from week to week, figuring out your part time bank holiday entitlement doesn't have to be a headache. Because you don't have a fixed daily wage, the law requires us to look back at what you earned over the last 13 weeks to find a fair average.
Instead of doing the math manually on paper, you can simply use our bank holiday entitlement calculator at the top of this page. Enter your recent hours and pay, and it will apply the statutory formula instantly.
1. The Eligibility Threshold (The 40-Hour Rule)
Before calculating pay, you must pass the statutory threshold: Have you worked at least 40 hours in the 5 weeks immediately preceding the public holiday? If the answer is no, there is no statutory entitlement for that specific holiday.
2. The Calculation Method
If you qualify and do not normally work on the day the holiday falls, your pay is calculated as one-fifth of your "normal weekly wage". Here is how it works under the hood:
- Take your total earnings over the preceding 13 weeks.
- Divide by 13 to get the weekly average.
- Divide that average by 5 to get your daily holiday pay entitlement.
Common Questions
Is Good Friday a bank holiday in Ireland?
No. Good Friday is not a statutory public holiday in Ireland. While many schools and businesses close, employees have no legal entitlement to time off or extra pay unless specified in their employment contract.
Do I get double pay for working on a public holiday?
Not exactly. The law entitles you to your normal daily pay plus an additional benefit. This benefit can be an extra day's pay, a paid day off within a month, or an extra day of annual leave. It often equates to double pay, but employers have the choice of which benefit to give.
What if I am on sick leave during a public holiday?
If you are a full-time worker on certified sick leave, you are still entitled to the public holiday benefit. Part-time workers must still meet the 40-hour threshold in the previous 5 weeks to qualify while on sick leave.