The era of generous bank holiday bonuses and paid rest periods is ending for thousands of BP staff. In an exclusive revelation, it has emerged that the oil and gas company is slashing these perks for 5,400 workers at its UK petrol stations. The cuts are being made to offset a rise in the basic hourly wage, which will hit £13.45 in February to match the real living wage.
Bank holiday shifts, once a lucrative opportunity for staff to earn 1.5 times their normal rate, will now be less rewarding. BP has confirmed it will pay premium rates on fewer holidays, significantly reducing the earning potential for staff willing to work these unpopular dates. Furthermore, the daily paid break—a standard 20 to 30 minutes—is being abolished, meaning staff will no longer earn money while they eat lunch or rest.
The reaction from the workforce has been one of annoyance and skepticism. One source claimed that the benefits being removed were contractually guaranteed and that the company is maneuvering to get staff to agree to the changes without compensation. The source suggested that the company is framing the mandatory Living Wage adjustment as a “new benefit” to justify the removal of the old perks.
Financially, the trade-off seems stark. Analysis shows that the take-home pay for an average shift will remain almost identical to current levels, despite the 6.7% hike in the hourly rate. This is because the money gained from the higher rate is almost exactly cancelled out by the money lost from the unpaid break.
The TUC and other labor organizations have condemned the move. They argue that at a time when major corporations are posting significant profits, cutting the benefits of the lowest-paid staff is unjustifiable. As BP prepares to roll out the changes, the spotlight is firmly on how major employers are navigating the balance between fair headline pay and the erosion of worker rights.