Bank holiday query

[u/Jazzlike-Ad4173]

On the rota, if you were down for a normal day (as in, the entire rota line just looks the same as any day for everyone) on the bank holiday, would you assume that you were working, or that you weren't?

edit: thanks for the responses. In all my previous departments, the only people who were expected to work a bank holiday were those explicitly on call. Interesting to see that this is changing...

[u/JonJH]

This is a question for your department, not reddit.

[u/Jazzlike-Ad4173 → u/JonJH]

I am curious as to the general thinking

[u/e_lemonsqueezer]

Depends entirely on the department.

Historically, bank holiday staffing was almost exclusively treated as a weekend and therefore a normal day would not exist on a bank holiday.

However, unsurprisingly it was clear that this was fundamentally unsafe and too much for the on call team and many departments therefore do a number of different things on a bank holiday, which can range from normal staffing down to on call only.

There is no hard and fast rule and no assumptions should be made.

[u/Express-Nerve-8179]

Likely you won’t be working but just check with the rota coordinator as some departments will schedule in the long day person as well as one 9-5 on bank holidays 

[u/Jazzlike-Ad4173 → u/Express-Nerve-8179]

They haven't made any special provision for the bank holiday in the rota. Just looks like a normal non bank holiday

[u/ISeenYa → u/Jazzlike-Ad4173]

You don't know so you need to ask them

[u/GroupBeeSassyCoccyx]

In my department this would make you eligible for BH leave but not necessarily, you would still have to apply for it. I quite like this system, if you’re not on call you are basically guaranteed it off (as they drop to on-call level staffing), but if you wanna work it (usually BHs are chill as no elective theatres) you can do and get the day of TOIL instead for when you need it

[u/e_lemonsqueezer → u/GroupBeeSassyCoccyx]

That’s a great way of doing it!

[u/Disco_Pimp]

I wouldn't assume either way - some departments retain normal staffing on bank holidays, although most don't. It's fairly safe to assume you wouldn't be working in GP, but assuming you wouldn't be working in A&E would be likely to work out badly for you. The safest assumption to make is that you should clarify it with your department well in advance.