Holiday leave
In the Bahamas, the Employment Act (2001) and associated regulations provide guidelines for vacation leave entitlements for employees.
Minimum Entitlement
After completing one year of employment, employees are entitled to the following minimum paid vacation (annual leave):
- 1-6 years employment: 1 week
- 7+ years employment: 2 weeks
Enhanced Entitlement
For employees with 7 or more years of employment, they are entitled to an additional day of paid vacation for each public holiday that occurs during their vacation period.
Calculation and Considerations
To be eligible for vacation leave, employees must have completed one year of continuous employment with the same employer. The vacation earned must be taken within the year it accrues. Under specific circumstances, unused vacation may be carried over, but must normally be used within the following year. Employers are obligated to pay out any unused vacation upon termination of employment.
It's important to note that specific agreements outlined in individual employment contracts or collective bargaining agreements may provide for more favorable vacation entitlements than those prescribed in the law.
Public holidays
The Bahamas celebrates a variety of civic and religious holidays. The official public holidays are as follows:
New Year's Day
This holiday is celebrated on January 1st.
Majority Rule Day
This holiday is observed on January 10th.
Good Friday
The date for Good Friday varies based on the Christian calendar.
Easter Monday
Similar to Good Friday, the date for Easter Monday also varies based on the Christian calendar.
Whit Monday (Labour Day)
This holiday is celebrated on the first Friday in June.
Independence Day
The Bahamas celebrates its Independence Day on July 10th.
Emancipation Day
This holiday is observed on the first Monday in August.
National Heroes' Day (formerly Discovery Day)
This holiday is celebrated on the second Monday in October.
Christmas Day
Christmas Day is celebrated on December 25th.
Boxing Day
Boxing Day is observed on December 26th.
It's important to note that when a public holiday falls on a weekend, the following Monday is usually observed as a substitute holiday.
Types of leave
Employees in the Bahamas are entitled to various types of leave protected by the Employment Act (2001) and other relevant regulations.
Vacation Leave (Annual Leave)
The Employment Act (2001) provides the legal basis for vacation leave. Employees are entitled to the following minimum paid vacation after one year of continuous employment:
- 1-6 years of service: 1 week
- 7+ years of service: 2 weeks
Vacation entitlement is usually calculated based on the calendar year.
Sick Leave
The Employment Act (2001) also provides the legal basis for sick leave. Employees who have worked for at least six months are entitled to one week of sick leave with pay each year if they provide a medical certificate. However, employees are not entitled to payment for one-day absences or to accumulating unused sick leave from year to year.
Maternity Leave
Female employees are entitled to 12 weeks of maternity leave, generally taken within 6 weeks before and 6 weeks after the expected birth date, as per the Employment Act (2001). While the law doesn't explicitly require paid maternity leave, many employers and collective agreements offer maternity benefits.
Other Types of Leave
- Casual Leave: Employees may be entitled to a short period of casual leave for personal reasons at the discretion of the employer.
- Bereavement Leave: Employees may be entitled to a short period of paid bereavement leave following the death of a close relative. Specific durations may vary.
- Special Leave: May exist for reasons such as military service, jury duty, or further education, depending on the employer's policies.
Employment contracts or collective bargaining agreements may offer more favorable leave provisions. Specific eligibility requirements or documentation needs may apply for certain types of leave.
