Summarise with AI
What BAPS leave covers
Four payment types share this basis, which is why they are grouped as BAPS:
- Bereavement leave
- Alternative holidays — see alternative holiday
- Public holidays
- Sick leave
Each is paid at relevant daily pay: what the employee would have earned had they worked on that particular day, including regular allowances, overtime and productivity payments they would have received.
When average daily pay applies
Sometimes relevant daily pay cannot be worked out — the employee's daily pay varies within the pay period, or it is simply not possible to determine what they would have earned. In that case average daily pay is used instead: gross earnings over the last 52 weeks divided by the number of whole or part days worked in that period.
It is not a free choice between the two. Average daily pay is available where relevant daily pay cannot be determined, or where the employee's pay varies within the pay period.
Why it differs from annual holidays
Annual holidays use a weekly basis — the greater of ordinary weekly pay and average weekly earnings. BAPS leave uses a daily one. Two different bases, two different calculations, in the same Act.
Whether a day is payable at all depends on the otherwise working day test. So a public holiday payment needs two questions answered: was it an otherwise working day, and what is the relevant daily pay for it. Our Holidays Act leave calculator covers the annual holiday side.
