Public holidays
are statutory non-working days — from 8–9 in the Netherlands and the UK to 13+ in parts of Switzerland (cantonal), Austria and Asia. Pay treatment, substitution when holidays fall on weekends, and premiums for holiday work are all nationally set.
What employers get wrong about holidays
Regional variation first: Swiss holidays differ by canton, German by Land, Indian by state — a single group calendar misfires payroll and scheduling. Substitution second: some countries move weekend-falling holidays to weekdays (UK bank-holiday mechanics, Gulf practice varies), others let them lapse (Switzerland mostly). Premiums third: work on public holidays draws 150–200% or time off in lieu under many laws and CBAs.
Payroll must encode the correct calendar per employee location — including remote workers, whose holidays follow their work location, not headquarters.
FAQ
Are public holidays paid on top of annual leave?
Yes in most systems — they are separate categories, and leave days falling on public holidays usually do not consume the leave balance. A few markets blend them (UK statutory minimum can include bank holidays by contract wording), so contract language matters.
Which holidays apply to remote employees abroad?
The work location’s — an employee working from Poland observes Polish holidays regardless of the employer’s country. Mixed teams therefore run mixed calendars; planning tools and payroll need per-person location data.