The Government is committed to bringing people together in strong, united communities. We encourage and support people to have shared aspirations, values and experiences. Sporting events such as the World Cup contribute towards this objective. We regret however that we cannot agree to create new bank or public holidays to mark the success of sporting events.

The Government regularly receives requests for additional bank and public holidays to celebrate a variety of occasions. However, the current pattern is well established and accepted.

Whilst an additional bank holiday may benefit some communities and sectors, the cost to the economy of an additional bank holiday remains considerable. The most recent estimate following an Impact Assessment for the additional holiday for the Diamond Jubilee is that a bank holiday (across the UK as a whole) costs employers around £1.2bn.

Workers in the UK are entitled to 28 days holiday each year. Employers are under no legal obligation to grant time off for public holidays. However, Government's policy is to encourage employers to respond flexibly and sympathetically to any requests for leave, bearing in mind business needs. Acas provides detailed guidance about holiday entitlement on its website.

Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy