Argyll and Bute council workers to miss out on World Cup bank holiday
PA MediaCouncil officials have recommended that there should be no additional bank holiday in Argyll and Bute for Scotland's opening World Cup match this summer.
The holiday was recently announced for Monday 15 June, the day after the national team plays its first game at the men's tournament since 1998 against Haiti.
However, a report to the local authority has recommended that council staff, including school-based workers, should not be given the day off. Employees will be able to apply for annual leave through the usual methods if they wish to be off work that day.
Scotland's match kicks off at 02:00 the previous day, and is being played at Gillette Stadium in Massachusetts in the USA.
A report will go before the full council at its meeting on Wednesday, with councillors recommended to agree not to designate the holiday.
Executive director Kirsty Flanagan said that when an additional bank holiday is granted, it cannot be applied to all council employees.
Schools, for example, must comply with legislation on teaching days.
She said: "In terms of other essential services, these must continue to be delivered, and so arrangements would have to be put in place, were the council minded to award the holiday.
"On previous occasions when an additional bank holiday has been proposed, such as for the recent coronation, the council did not designate this as a public holiday, so no public holiday enhancements for staff who were still required to work applied.
"Employees required to work on the day received additional pay at plain time for the hours they worked."
Ms Flanagan added that previous estimates for additional costs for paying essential workers on a public holiday came to £23,000.
She added: "The council is facing a challenging financial outlook and considering options to close a significant budget deficit.
"The financial and reputational impacts associated with the award of additional holiday for public sector staff must be balanced with the benefits it would provide.
"On balance, it is recommended that an additional day's holiday is not provided. Instead, employees who wish to mark the occasion may request annual leave in line with normal procedures."
Scotland will also face Morocco and Brazil in the first round of the tournament.
