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Q: Can I make an employee work on Boxing Day?

Nov 25 2005

Answered by: Peter Done Ask a question

It all depends on your contracts of employment. If there is the likelihood of working on any traditional holiday then you should have a policy in place to deal with such an event- perhaps a rota of the staff so that everybody gets their fair ‘share’. In a situation of an emergency or exceptional demand an employer can require any employee to work at that time providing they can show that there is a real need to do so. It would be prudent in this type of situation to make sure you do not force an employee to work who is unable to make care provisions for a dependent child or relative.

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