Weekend Holidays Falling on Workdays: Should Companies Offer Substitute Days Off?

Substitute Holidays for Weekend Holidays

If any holidays fall on a Saturday or Sunday for a company that works Monday to Friday, is it necessary to allow extra substitute holidays for those? For example, if Holi or Independence Day falls on a Sunday, should the company provide extra holidays in place of those holidays?

Now, I have provided the below list of holidays plus 2 optional choices of festival holidays. Employees say Sunday and Saturday holidays must be substituted. I want to know what is the common practice?

- 01-01-2021 New Year
- 26-01-2021 Republic Day (Tuesday)
- 01-05-2021 Labour Day (Saturday)
- 20-07-2021 Bakr Eid (Tuesday)
- 15-08-2021 Independence Day (Saturday)
- 02-10-2021 Gandhi Jayanti (Thursday)
- 04-11-2021 Diwali (Saturday)
- 25-12-2021 Christmas (Friday)

Coincidence of Holidays with Weekly Holidays

The coincidence of any national or festival holiday on a weekly holiday for the establishment or an individual employee is a natural phenomenon. If the employee is required to work on that day, they are entitled to the benefits of double wages or an alternative holiday as per the applicable law. On the contrary, if they are allowed to avail of the holiday, it automatically merges with the holiday.