Should Good Friday be a Public Bank Holiday?

oppenheimer1

As the title of the thread suggests, should we have a public holiday on Good Friday? The UK has a 4 day weekend coming up, and it was suggested a few years ago as part of the pay agreements that we should have the same. The government at the time rejected it. However I ask would you want it now even if it recognises another Christian holiday?

EDIT: If mods could add a yes/no poll that would be great

wylo

I dont care what kind of christian/muslim/buddhist day it recognizes if it means a day off.

rubadub

No, I would prefer another bank/public holiday to be on the first monday or friday of july. I hate holidays revolving around fictional characters in novels. Easter changes each year so you can end up with lots of public holidays coming at once.

We have 9 per year
* New Year's Day (1 January)
* St. Patrick's Day (17 March)
* Easter Monday
* First Monday in May, June, August
* Last Monday in October
* Christmas Day (25 December)
* St. Stephen's Day (26 December)

they should be far more spread out.

El Weirdo

Meh. My place of work gives us Good Friday off anyway.

oppenheimer1

rubadub wrote: »

No, I would prefer another bank/public holiday to be on the first monday or friday of july. I hate holidays revolving around fictional characters in novels. Easter changes each year so you can end up with lots of public holidays coming at once.

We have 9 per year
* New Year's Day (1 January)
* St. Patrick's Day (17 March)
* Easter Monday
* First Monday in May, June, August
* Last Monday in October
* Christmas Day (25 December)
* St. Stephen's Day (26 December)

they should be far more spread out.

Are you saying Christmas day and St Stephens day shouldn't be bank holidays?

ScumLord

Every Friday should be a bank holiday.

Good Friday is a bank holiday (the only one left)

but isn't a public holiday.

oppenheimer1

Deleted User wrote: »

Good Friday is a bank holiday (the only one left)

but isn't a public holiday.

Good point!

Gyalist

Good Friday is already a Bank Holiday. It is, however, not a Public Holiday.

Edit: Oops, beaten to it by pg633

El Weirdo

Gyalist wrote: »

Good Friday is already a Bank Holiday. It is, however, not a Public Holiday.

Oooooooh... So close!

rubadub

oppenheimer1 wrote: »

Are you saying Christmas day and St Stephens day shouldn't be bank holidays?

Yes, I would prefer a single day in december at the start if any, and a fixed day like the other non-religious ones, like the first monday, though a friday would be just as good too. I am not saying I do not want days off! I would still want the 9 holidays during the year, just more spread out. If people want to take days off like christmas day they can just apply for them off well in advance just like any other holidays they want. If christmas & stephens were not public holidays then I might not be forced to take about 4 other holidays around that time too, which I resent having to do.

El Weirdo wrote: »

Meh. My place of work gives us Good Friday off anyway.

My place forces us to take it off, some foreign girls thought I was joking and were well pissed off, they had planned all their holidays out already and had to change plans.

Deleted User wrote: »

Good Friday is a bank holiday (the only one left)

but isn't a public holiday.

Its not a bank holiday here AFAIK, (not technically anyway, banks might choose to close) it came up in other threads. Mates of mine in banks worked it before.

Tail Wagger

Sure you'll only get work to do around the house, unless you'll be in Limerick for the day?

oppenheimer1

rubadub wrote: »

Yes, I would prefer a single day in december at the start if any, and a fixed day like the other non-religious ones, like the first monday, though a friday would be just as good too. I am not saying I do not want days off! I would still want the 9 holidays during the year, just more spread out. If people want to take days off like christmas day they can just apply for them off well in advance just like any other holidays they want. If christmas & stephens were not public holidays then I might not be forced to take about 4 other holidays around that time too, which I resent having to do.


Its not a bank holiday here AFAIK, (not technically anyway, banks might choose to close) it came up in other threads. Mates of mine in banks worked it before.

Thats fair enough, but I don't mind it too much when they bunch together. Last year, because easter was so early, it was possible to get nine days off in a row for the price of four, which was pretty great to be honest. I would have only needed to take 3 days holidays had Good Friday been a public holiday.

rubadub

oppenheimer1 wrote: »

Last year, because easter was so early, it was possible to get nine days off in a row for the price of four

I see your point, if I was going to vote for obliged days in a row off it would be in the summer. In my workplace they used to shut down one section and people knew well in advance and had a say in it, they always picked a time in the summer.

heres the bit on bank/public holidays.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Banking_and_Financial_Dealings_Act_1971#Bank_holidays_in_the_Republic_of_Ireland
confirms it is neither public nor a bank holiday. It seems "bank holiday" is just a colloquial/slang term now.

In the Republic of Ireland, the term "public holiday" is used officially, though "bank holiday" is used colloquially.

Good Friday is not a public holiday, though banks and public institutions are closed.

http://www.citizensinformation.ie/categories/employment/employment-rights-and-conditions/leave-and-holidays/public-holidays-in-ireland

On a public holiday, sometimes called a bank holiday, most businesses and schools close....
Good Friday is not a public holiday. While some schools and businesses close on that day, you have no automatic entitlement to time off work on that day.

thebman

So your asking me would I like Friday off?

Yes, yes I would.

Dravokivich

Fúck no....


!!!!


that's all i'll say on the matter...

stovelid

I'd never say no to another day off, but an extra holiday seems superfluous given that Easter Monday is one. It would be nice to have another long weekend in Summer - or even Christmas - though.

Odysseus

I'm off Friday and get Tuesday as a privilege day, so I finish on Thursday and I'm not back until Wednesady; nice.

oldyouth

We should be doing more to separate Church from State, not adding to it. No public holiday in my opinion

GavRedKing

Our company has given us the day off so im not to pushed,, lucky me.

rubadub

rubadub wrote: »

Yes, I would prefer a single day in december at the start if any, and a fixed day like the other non-religious ones, like the first monday, though a friday would be just as good too. I am not saying I do not want days off! I would still want the 9 holidays during the year, just more spread out. If people want to take days off like christmas day they can just apply for them off well in advance just like any other holidays they want. If christmas & stephens were not public holidays then I might not be forced to take about 4 other holidays around that time too, which I resent having to do.

I would say your in the minority with your opinion above. Christmas is a great time of year why would you want to be working? Although we are off from the 23rd of December to the about the 4th or 5th of January and it doesn't come out of our holidays we just get it as extra holidays even if I didn't I would take the extra days. I think having bank holidays near each other at least a few times a year is a good ideal as you can usually get a good long break if you take an extra day or two. I have Friday off also but by taking thursday and next tuesday I have 6 days off in a row for the price of two.

As far as I can see most people are off good Friday except people in retail, health care etc.

Handsome Bob

No. If people insist on boozers not being closed for a religious event then they should also insist on not getting the day off for a religious event.

Sharlovesjohn

I have to use a holiday for it like at christmas time too I lose 5 days holidays but I'd rather be off then working it was in a shop before my current place was in on x mas eve till eight at night then in on stephens day at one in afternoon preparing for the sales worked like a dog for next week was so glad when new years day came around as I was working weekends too,

Im off to London on Friday for a holiday anyway just thought Id let you all know

Theta

Tis a company day for me yes!!............I am working it this year though!

walshkvn

Mondays too ... 4 day weekends and three day working weeks sound good to me

Wazdakka

Atari Drunkenly eating meat-uar Tbh...

egan2020

The firm I work for gives us a half day on Holy Thursday and the day off on Good Friday. I'm going to take Thursday morning off out of my holidays for a really long weekend

wes

Any excuse for a day off, so yes .

nibtrix

rubadub wrote: »

My place forces us to take it off, some foreign girls thought I was joking and were well pissed off, they had planned all their holidays out already and had to change plans.

I hate places that do this, especially if you're only given the minimum entitlement to paid holidays (4 working weeks). You're told you have 20 days holidays to take, then they can force you to take one for Good Friday and 2-3 at Christmas!!

If the company chooses to be closed on non-Public Holidays, then that should be their loss, not yours!:mad::mad:

Poor Uncle Tom

Yes

Jaxxy

Odysseus wrote: »

I'm off Friday and get Tuesday as a privilege day, so I finish on Thursday and I'm not back until Wednesady; nice.

Same here, but I'll probably work Tuesday to get the day in lieu. It's a nice option to have!

ixoy

Get the Friday off (as do most people I know). Don't get the Tuesday off a a lot of people around me are getting, so have to work then.

Gummy Panda

I want Caturday to be a public holiday

Tigger

Odysseus wrote: »

I'm off Friday and get Tuesday as a privilege day, so I finish on Thursday and I'm not back until Wednesady; nice.

whats a privelledge day?

is ita public sector thingy where you have to walk to dublin on monday and it takes 2 days?

rubadub

Winston Gray Skirmish wrote: »

I would say your in the minority with your opinion above. Christmas is a great time of year why would you want to be working?

Yes, Christmas is a great time of year and I would apply for a few days off -but certainly not the amount I end up forced to take -esp. all in a row, I would prefer to go back to work during Christmas week and am jealous of mates who can go back to work as nothing much is going on. I would apply just like I do in the summer or whenever else I want days off. I never said I want to be working, my point is I want the CHOICE. Also the reason Christmas is good is many people are forced off at once, so you can meet up etc, I would still rather this almost nationwide compulsory holiday to be in summer with decent weather.

I would actually rather scrap the 9 public holidays and be legally entitled to 29 holidays of my own choice, but some forced ones are OK since you are guaranteed most of your mates will be off too.

Winston Gray Skirmish wrote: »

Although we are off from the 23rd of December to the about the 4th or 5th of January and it doesn't come out of our holidays we just get it as extra holidays even if I didn't I would take the extra days

Not sure what you mean there, are you saying none of your legally entitled 20 days come out of this? if so lucky you, I expect you are in the minority.

Winston Gray Skirmish wrote: »

I think having bank holidays near each other at least a few times a year is a good ideal as you can usually get a good long break if you take an extra day or two.

if the 9 extra days were your own choice you could pick them whenever you want and get the extra long break. So if the weather forecast was brutal or some concert or wedding, cheap holiday etc was coming up would would be free to pick and choose when to take off.

Winston Gray Skirmish wrote: »

As far as I can see most people are off good Friday

ixoy wrote: »

Get the Friday off (as do most people I know)

Most people I know are forced to take it off, are these people getting it in addition to the 20 days legal entitlement?

It is like some people are blind to the fact they are forced to take off good friday, or even moreso Christmas. The usual chit-chat at christmas is "when are you off until?" and if people say a lot of days it is usually greeted with "ohh, you lucky bastard" whereas I would feel sorry for people if they are being forced to take so many off. Just to see their reaction I should reply to such a person with "I am off until early February, I am forced to take all 20 days off in a row" just to emphasis that there is no "luck" involved and make them realise that they are forced.

Minstrel27

oppenheimer1 wrote: »

As the title of the thread suggests, should we have a public holiday on Good Friday? The UK has a 4 day weekend coming up, and it was suggested a few years ago as part of the pay agreements that we should have the same.

My job works around the English bank holiday system so I couldn't give a **** what they do here.

thetonynator

rubadub wrote: »

"I am off until early February, I am forced to take all 20 days off in a row" .

I thought there were 31 days in january?? and some extra at the end of december???:D

oppenheimer1

I can't say the result of the poll is a surprise, even given the anti religion ethos of after hours. I had a feeling most would sell out on their principles if it meant they'd get an extra day off.

TheZohanS

oppenheimer1 wrote: »

I can't say the result of the poll is a surprise, even given the anti religion ethos of after hours. I had a feeling most would sell out on their principles if it meant they'd get an extra day off.

I'm as shocked as you are.

(not really though)

Dudess

oppenheimer1 wrote: »

I can't say the result of the poll is a surprise, even given the anti religion ethos of after hours. I had a feeling most would sell out on their principles if it meant they'd get an extra day off.

But if they're anti religion, how are they selling out their principles?

There isn't that much of a gap between the two results in fairness...

I agree with others that there is too much of a concentration of bank holidays during the spring/early summer period. October weekend to Christmas seems far too long, given the gloomy time of year, without a bank/public holiday. Ditto new year's to St Patrick's Day.

oppenheimer1

Dudess wrote: »

But if they're anti religion, how are they selling out their principles?

There isn't that much of a gap between the two results in fairness...

I agree with others that there is too much of a concentration of bank holidays during the spring/early summer period. October weekend to Christmas seems far too long, given the gloomy time of year, without a bank/public holiday. Ditto new year's to St Patrick's Day.

Well the question was would you like another public holiday, even if it marks a Christian feast. While I figure that the vast majority would like another public holiday regardless of what day it fell on, I asked specifically about Good Friday. Given that most polls with a religious theme on AH are strongly anti Catholic/Christian in the ratio of about 9 to 1, the fact that this poll is close to 50:50 suggests to me that if it means a day off, people don't care what it honours. This is despite often protesting about links between church and state. In my view that is selling out.

All for the price of a day off.

I Drink It Up!

Good Friday should be set aside for the flagellation of the people who are employed in the Passport Office.

landsleaving

Does this thread have to be about ships now too?

I Drink It Up!

landsleaving wrote: »

Does this thread have to be about ships now too?

:D.....Maybe....if I can't get a fecking plane out of here....:cool:

thebman

oppenheimer1 wrote: »

I can't say the result of the poll is a surprise, even given the anti religion ethos of after hours. I had a feeling most would sell out on their principles if it meant they'd get an extra day off.

Anti-religion I doubt. Non-believers maybe.

Either way if your not religious, its just a day off. If you are you have to go to mass.

I think I we have a clear winner on our hands :P

rubadub

oppenheimer1 wrote: »

Well the question was would you like another public holiday, even if it marks a Christian feast. While I figure that the vast majority would like another public holiday regardless of what day it fell on, I asked specifically about Good Friday.

I did not pick that up from your OP. It was a bit vague and the poll could have done with a lot more options especially as you are now trying to analyse your ulterior motive for posting it. (i.e. to prove people are "sellouts")

oppenheimer1 wrote: »

it was suggested a few years ago as part of the pay agreements that we should have the same. The government at the time rejected it. However I ask would you want it now even if it recognises another Christian holiday?

From that I had in mind that a public holiday was on the cards, as a pay agreement, and would we like it to be on the friday before the first Sunday after the first full moon occurring on or after 21 March. I voted no presuming we would get it on another day, not related to religion.

oppenheimer1 wrote: »

even given the anti religion ethos of after hours. I had a feeling most would sell out on their principles if it meant they'd get an extra day off.

It would be feasible that a priest might vote no thinking it is unfair to inflict religious holidays on citizens who might not practise that particular religion. I would gladly take good friday off if there was no other day being offered, I would still think it ridiculous to base it around that particular character. If my workplace gave me the friday off before hilters death I would be glad of it -but again I might prefer a different time of year, I would not consider myself a sellout or nazi supporter, which you might conclude.

rubadub

rubadub wrote: »

Not sure what you mean there, are you saying none of your legally entitled 20 days come out of this? if so lucky you, I expect you are in the minority.


Most people I know are forced to take it off, are these people getting it in addition to the 20 days legal entitlement?

Yes we get our Christmas holidays and Good Friday in addition to our 20 days holidays. This year that meant we were off from the 23rd December until the 4th of Jan without touching our holiday entitlement. Where I work is a research institute which is part of a University so not a private firm. We do not get any of the "University" holidays other times of the year just during xmas.

One advantage (I think you mentioned it) is if we are forced to take time off them lots of people are off at the same time which is good.

dylano_k

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q4tbZ7xnEjk