Statutory Leave: Full time staff are entitled to 10 statutory and public holidays per year. For staff that work less than full time hours this leave is pro rata and is calculated in hours.

The expected dates of bank and public holidays in Northern Ireland for this year, and the next year are listed below.

When the usual date falls on a Saturday or Sunday, the 'substitute day' is normally the following Monday. For example in 2020, Boxing Day is on Saturday 26 December, so the substitute bank holiday is Monday 28 December.

Time off for employees

Though many HSC employees receive the day off work on bank and public holidays, due to the nature of our services some staff will have to work on these days. Any right to time off or extra pay for working on a public holiday will be detailed in your contract of employment.

Annual Leave

Full-time staff are entitled to the following levels of annual leave. 

• On Entry - 27 days
• After 5 years service - 29 days
• After 10 years service - 33 days

For staff who work less than full-time hours this leave is pro-rata and is calculated in hours.

Work/Life Balance Policies

HSC recognises that the opportunity to work flexibly can greatly improve the ability of staff to balance home and work responsibilities. This, in turn, benefits HSC as it enables us to retain skilled staff and to reduce recruitment costs. A range of work-life balance and flexible working arrangements are in place, including:

• Part-time working
• Flexitime (Available for staff up to and including Band 6, dependent on the needs of the service)
• Jobshare
• Employment breaks
• Phased returns to work following maternity leave and sick leave (recommended by Occupational Health)
• Marriage leave
• Adoption leave
• Maternity, Paternity and Parental Leave
• Study Leave
• Bereavement and special leave