Highland Council Workers to Miss Out on World Cup Bank Holiday
Council workers in the Highlands will not receive an additional day's holiday to commemorate Scotland's first men's World Cup game in 28 years.
First Minister John Swinney had previously advocated for Monday, 15 June, to be declared a national bank holiday. Although the King later approved the proposal, the decision to grant the day off remains at the discretion of individual employers.
Highland councillors were advised against approving the extra holiday, with the estimated cost of the day off around £150,000.
After deliberation, the councillors agreed to reject the proposal, citing concerns that the holiday could disrupt essential services such as bin collections and schools.
Consequently, Highland Council will maintain normal operations on 15 June.
Instead, members endorsed a secondary option allowing leave requests to be approved only if sufficient staffing levels are maintained to ensure safe service delivery.
Western Isles Also Decline Extra Public Holiday
Earlier in June, Western Isles councillors similarly decided against granting staff a public holiday, citing financial constraints amid a budget deficit.
The Comhairle nan Eilean Siar councillors unanimously agreed not to observe the holiday, emphasizing the authority's inability to afford an additional day off for workers.
The council estimated the cost of the extra public holiday to be at least £120,000.
