Staff and students at Dundee University received a royal knockout after it was confirmed it would be business as usual on the day of Prince William and Kate Middleton’s wedding despite the date being declared a national holiday.
The university confirmed staff wishing to watch the royal wedding on April 29th would have to take annual leave.
A hectic academic schedule was blamed for the decision, with the big day falling in the middle of the end-of-year examinations.
A spokesman for Dundee University said, “The royal wedding falls in exam week here at Dundee and exams are scheduled for April 29th. The university will not be closing on that day.
“With the exception of Christmas and New Year, the university does not close on public holidays, and the position remains the same for the forthcoming royal wedding.Annual leave”Staff can, of course, request leave from their normal holiday entitlement should they wish to take the day off to watch the wedding.”
There is likelihood some staff and students will be angered by the university’s decision after the wedding date was declared a bank holiday in celebration of the occasion.
One student who contacted The Courier stated, “If this holiday was in commemoration of the ending of world war two would these people still refuse to give their staff the holiday?
“I don’t see the point of being offered a holiday and not being able to take it.”
Meanwhile, Abertay University was non-committal on the subject, stating a decision on whether a holiday will be granted has yet to be taken.
Employers have come under attack for not giving employees time off for the wedding, with the GMB union saying yesterday it was “very disappointed” with North Ayrshire Council for not giving 7000 staff the day off.