Holiday Proposal for World Cup
Perth and Kinross Council · 25 February 2026
Back to Perth and Kinross Council — 25 February 2026 and its agenda
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Our vision is a Perth and Kinross where everyone can live life well, free from poverty and inequality ___________________________________________________________________ Committee or Board: Perth and Kinross Council Date of Meeting: 25 February 2026 Report Title: Holiday Proposal for World Cup Report Number: 26/52 Report Author: Pauline Johnstone, People & Culture Manager Organisational Lead: Greg Boland, Strategic Lead, Strategic Planning, People and Performance ___________________________________________________________________ 1. Purpose 1.1 This report is to establish if the Council wish to support the Bank Holiday on Monday 15 June 2026 to mark Scotland’s participation in the men's football World Cup finals. If this is supported it is proposed that this be as an additional day’s annual leave for all employees, recognising the operational impact and any issues around the different Terms and Conditions for Teachers and other staff groups. 1.2 Sections 1. Purpose 2. Recommendations 3. Background/Context 4. Main Issues/Proposals 6. Conclusion 7. Impact Value Assessment 8. Appendices 2. Recommendations It is recommended that: 2.1 Council considers the contents of the report and determines whether it wishes to make Monday 15 June 2026 a bank holiday for all Council staff; 2.2 If agreed, one additional annual leave day is granted to all employee groups to be taken on Monday 15 June 2026 or, for those required to work on that date at a suitable alternative time.
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2.3 If agreed, Council applies to the Scottish Government for exemption to the required teaching days to allow schools to be closed on 15 June 2026. 2.4 If agreed, essential services to be maintained to allow the capacity to respond to emergencies in our communities. 3. Background/Context 3.1 The first World Cup match involving the Scottish national football team is scheduled to take place at 02:00 hours on Sunday 14 June 2026, the first time the national team has qualified since 1998. The First Minister proposal for a Bank Holiday for Scottish Government employees has received Royal Proclamation. As is the case with other bank holidays in Scotland, there is no law requiring other employers or businesses to close. 4. Main Issues/Proposals 4.1 It is proposed that if the Council wishes to recognise this day that it awards an additional day’s leave on Monday 15 June 2026 to all employee groups. 4.2 Leave taken on this day would be subject to operational service requirements. Essential services will remain operational to ensure appropriate response to any emergencies in our communities such as homelessness, housing; staff working on Monday 15 June 2026 may take the extra day off later by mutual agreement with their Line Manager. 4.3 For employees not contracted to work on Monday 15 June 2026, Time Off in Lieu (TOIL) would ordinarily be applied. However, Education settings have historically been unable to accommodate TOIL operationally. In such cases, a pro-rata compensatory payment would be required, consistent with arrangements made for previous national events. 4.4 Scottish Government (SG) would require to approve any request for an exemption to reduce the statutory school teaching year from 190 to 189 days. 4.5 For staff due to work on Monday 15 June 2026, they will be paid as normal which is already fully budgeted for within existing staff costs. There will, however, be a loss of productive working hours arising from awarding an additional day’s leave. 4.6 To ensure equity and fairness staff who are not ordinarily contracted to work a Monday will require either TOIL or, where this is unachievable, full payment for the additional day, which again will result in a loss of productive working hours or where relevant financial compensation. The notional cost of granting an additional annual leave day for those working in education settings where compensation may be required is estimated to be: Teachers £31,000 School Support Staff £13,000
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4.7 If the day was designated as a public holiday, these costs would be higher because of enhanced payments in line with the particular terms and conditions of that staff group. 4.8 The position of other Local Authorities is not yet finalised. 4.9 Subject to approval by Council, the agreed position will be shared with trade unions and employees. 5 Conclusion 5.1 This report invites Council to consider whether it wishes to recognise this historic event and, if so, whether to align with the Scottish Government’s decision to grant a bank holiday/additional day’s leave on Monday 15 June 2026. This would involve extending equivalent provision to all Perth and Kinross employees, in order to ensure fair and equitable treatment. 6. Impact and Value Assessment This report has been classified as being an operational report and as such does not require a full Impact and Value Assessment. 7. Appendices 7.1 Appendix 1 – Estimated Costs