Republic Day on a Sunday: Should We Make Monday a Holiday for Our Employees?

Dear sir, Republic Day (National holiday) falls on Sunday, 26/01/2020. Usually, our company is on holiday on Sunday. In this case, do we declare the next working day (Monday, 27/01/2020) as a holiday due to Republic Day (National holiday) occurring on Sunday, 26/01/2020?

For example:

1. An employee who ordinarily works on Sunday is entitled to a paid leave on Sunday, 26/01/2020, Republic Day (National holiday).
2. An employee who does not ordinarily work on Sunday is entitled to a paid leave on Monday, 27/01/2020. January 27th then becomes the statutory holiday for an employee who ordinarily does not work on Sunday.

Is it correct?

Dear Thirumurugan,

Public and Weekly Holidays Coinciding

Any public holiday and a weekly holiday falling on the same day is a coincidence.

1) If that particular day is a weekly holiday for the entire establishment and the establishment does not function on that day, compliance is total both ways. Therefore, since the employee has been permitted to avail of both the holidays simultaneously, no question of the grant of compensatory or substituted holiday would arise in such a situation.

2) On the other hand, if the establishment functions on that national holiday, any particular employee who has his/her weekly holiday on that day also should not be required to work. In such a case also, the employee stands to enjoy both the holidays simultaneously. Therefore, it is not mandatory to compensate for the loss of a national or festival holiday due to its chronological coincidence with a weekly holiday. Of course, if the employer decides to grant such a relief as mentioned in your post, it's a gesture of goodwill.

Sunday on the 26th acts as both a weekly holiday and Republic Day in your case.

Regards

Dear all,

Sunday is the weekly off day for the entire factory. This year, Republic Day falls on Sunday, 26/01/2020, which is our usual weekly off day. Could someone clarify whether we should pay one day's salary extra for January 2020? I mean the number of pay days for January 2020 is 27; should we pay for 28 days or not?

Thank you.

Not necessary to give a substitute holiday for Jan 26th. If your company management wishes to grant a holiday on any other day, they can do so. Nothing wrong in it.

Dear All,

Any holidays or national holidays that fall on a Sunday are not your or the company's mistake. Therefore, please refrain from the practice of giving the next day off as a holiday when there is a national holiday on a Sunday.

However, we follow a 5-day working policy (Monday to Friday), and if a holiday falls on a Monday and you are required to work on that day, you will receive one day of complementary leave. This leave can be availed within the stipulated timeframe determined by HR.

I hope you agree with this policy.

Regards.

National Holidays and Weekly Offs

Dear Colleagues,

I have noted all three comments by seniors, and they hold good. You can't declare one day as an alternative holiday just because a National Holiday falls on a Sunday. However, since your company has declared Sunday as the weekly off day, there are no issues.

Hospitality Industry Considerations

In the case of the Hospitality Industry, they will work 365 days and 24/7. The Hospitality Industry will declare staggered week-offs to all employees based on industry requirements. In such cases, if a national holiday falls on a Sunday, the same day has to be declared as a national holiday. Employees who work on such days will have to be given one day of extra wage as per the N&FHs Act (apart from the regular wage). This rule is applicable to all National Holidays. I hope my seniors will agree with this comment.

Regards,
Malathesha K S
Sr. HRM

I fully concur with the views of learned members on the subject. There is no need, it's left to the admin. However, the fact remains that the admin is vested with such powers to list out paid holidays, including national holidays, compulsorily. When such compulsory holidays coincide with Sundays or weekly holidays, the admin can take advantage of the opportunity and choose other festivals which are not normally included in the list. It is important to ensure that either they are prefixed or suffixed to Sundays/weekly off.