BP to Scrap Paid Rest Breaks and Cut Bank Holiday Bonuses for Forecourt Workers Amid Pay Rise
BP will implement changes to benefits for 5,400 forecourt workers across 310 company-run stores starting in February 2026. These changes include scrapping paid rest breaks and reducing bank holiday premium pay. The 850 BP-branded forecourts run by partners are on different pay schemes and will not be affected.
The petrol giant, a Living Wage Foundation fair pay employer, will raise the hourly pay for affected workers to at least £13.45 from £12.60, representing a 6.7% increase, aligning with the living wage scheme. Additionally, the usual annual pay rise will be brought forward to February 2026. However, the removal of paid rest breaks and reduced bank holiday premiums are expected by some workers to lead to a fall in take-home pay. One worker estimated a reduction of at least 6.25%, though BP has disputed the exact figure.
Under UK law, workers who work shifts longer than six hours are entitled to an uninterrupted 20-minute rest break; however, this break does not have to be paid. Many retailers have cut paid breaks to offset rising operational costs. Trade unionists, including Paul Nowak of the Trades Union Congress, criticized BP's changes, describing them as a stealth reduction in pay. They also highlighted upcoming protections in the Employment Rights Bill that would restrict unilateral pay changes by employers.
