Work on Good Friday

jayboi

Just wondering what are everyone’s opinions on whether or not public services should be opened on Good Friday.

As i understand it Good Friday is not officially a public holiday and employers are not required to give staff the day off.

So i ask the question should we not just have a level playing field and have everyone in work, school etc, after all does the day off not have its roots as a religious holiday and we are after all (now more than ever) a secular country.

Perhaps others could shed more light on who are getting paid for this day off. I am aware that teachers etc on set contracts are paid for the off.


I work in the catering industry and came to this opinion as I was trying to get in contact with someone in the RSA and was left wondering was I in the wrong line of work.

MavisDavis

I honestly don't think it's possible to call Ireland a 'secular country' while maintaining a straight face.

ednwireland

its a bank holiday not a public holiday - i was at work

which means banks and ps off, rest of us worked

Seth Brundle

Its all nonsense derived from when the Church had more control over the country.
Feck it, I'm off down to the pub.
Oh wait!

Dr Galen

i don't know about anyone else, but having worked in both the public and private sectors for over 12 years, I've pretty much always had Good Friday off. I don't think having the day off is confined to just the Public service tbh.

anymore

jayboi wrote: »

Just wondering what are everyone’s opinions on whether or not public services should be opened on Good Friday.

As i understand it Good Friday is not officially a public holiday and employers are not required to give staff the day off.

So i ask the question should we not just have a level playing field and have everyone in work, school etc, after all does the day off not have its roots as a religious holiday and we are after all (now more than ever) a secular country.

Perhaps others could shed more light on who are getting paid for this day off. I am aware that teachers etc on set contracts are paid for the off.


I work in the catering industry and came to this opinion as I was trying to get in contact with someone in the RSA and was left wondering was I in the wrong line of work.

Why do you work in the catering industry if you have a problem working on days when most others dont ?

zootroid

This year was my first year not to work good Friday, but only because I'm not working.

I don't think it should be a day off. Naturally companies take it upon themselves to decide when their staff should and should not work, but I see no reason for half the country to close for a religious holiday.

anymore

zootroid wrote: »

This year was my first year not to work good Friday, but only because I'm not working.

I don't think it should be a day off. Naturally companies take it upon themselves to decide when their staff should and should not work, but I see no reason for half the country to close for a religious holiday.

So do you think we should work on Christmas Day and St Stephen's day as well ?
I didnt go to church yesterday, but if anyone wants to end Good Friday as a holiday, then they can take a hike as far as I am concerned.
Why should there be a day off for ' International lABOUR DAY , I.E THE MAY BANK HOLIDAY.

Biggins

Just because one religion says a day is special to them (which is fair enough for them to think that amid themselves) things close down across the nation and a great deal of the entertainment business is restricted.
In this day and age, thats madness.
I thought we were supposed to be moving on from this outdated archaic crap.

restaurants

ednwireland wrote: »

its a bank holiday not a public holiday - i was at work which means banks and ps off, rest of us worked

I should be treated like a normal Friday.
Most people worked a normal day - maybe an early finish (2:00 - 3:00 pm).

anymore

Biggins wrote: »

Just because one religion says a day is special to them (which is fair enough for them to think that amid themselves) things close down across the nation and a great deal of the entertainment business is restricted.
In this day and age, thats madness.
I thought we were supposed to be moving on from this outdated archaic crap.

It is just a day off for most people - it doesnt matter a damn what label you put on it !
Honestly people need to start getting a sense of proportion about it.
Its just a holiday !

moany

Look at the end of the day , people who are off on Good Friday have to give up one day of annual leave, i would rather work Good Friday and take the day off when i have something to do or want to go to the pub.

yoshytoshy

anymore wrote: »

It is just a day off for most people - it doesnt matter a damn what label you put on it !
Honestly people need to start getting a sense of proportion about it.
Its just a holiday !

The whole pub thing might change this though ,we might end up with pubs open ,but everyone is at work:D

markpb

moany wrote: »

Look at the end of the day , people who are off on Good Friday have to give up one day of annual leave.

Nope. My current and previous companies (private, not banks) have given me Good Friday off without affecting my annual leave. It's specifically written in my contract that it's a day off at the companys expense.

anymore

moany wrote: »

Look at the end of the day , people who are off on Good Friday have to give up one day of annual leave, i would rather work Good Friday and take the day off when i have something to do or want to go to the pub.

How can taking a day off mean ' having to give up a day off ?
Having good friday and the bank hol mon off is ideal for most people !

Why not abolish the Christams day off so if you want to be logical.

Biggins

anymore wrote: »

It is just a day off for most people - it doesnt matter a damn what label you put on it !
Honestly people need to start getting a sense of proportion about it.
Its just a holiday !

Yep, I agree with that.
Its up to just the state however to say what days are off.
As we are living now in a multi-cultural society, are we now still not saying though that our majority religion can be allowed influence what days we can have off but the other religions can go get stuffed still, in having the same say?

Its just a thought, nothing more. I love a day off as much as the next person.
(Unless its O'Leary!)

moonpurple

in reply to OP

President Obama has no difficulty talking about his personal relationship with the Christian tradition in an effort to seek election, America is a good example of freedom of worship without one group dominating all others

we do not need a secular society, we need balance, democratic state management of education and health etc.,, and the European Christian tradition continuing in a healthy manner so successful in the Republican France model

M cebee

well i'm self employed and had to work anyway


ddin't even know there was a bank holiday coming

Eliot Rosewater

ednwireland wrote: »

which means banks and ps off

Wait - aren't they the same thing now?!

Colm R

I have worked in many places where it is treated differently. Currently I need to use a days annual leave to take it off. And herein lies the problem.

In my current job, its not automatically a day off as we have to maintain a level of service. And thats why if I take the day off on a non public holiday, I believe I should be able to go to places like drivers licence, passport, post office and even banks.

Christmas Day is different because it is a state public holiday.

Essentially, its a public holiday or its not! If its not, I want to be able to use services provided by the state or privately. And at the end of the day, I would like to go to the pub.

galwayrush

Being self employed, and actually having some work to do, i made the most of it, otherwise i don't have an income.

hallelujajordan

Biggins wrote: »

Yep, I agree with that.
Its up to just the state however to say what days are off.
As we are living now in a multi-cultural society, are we now still not saying though that our majority religion can be allowed influence what days we can have off but the other religions can go get stuffed still, in having the same say?

Its just a thought, nothing more. I love a day off as much as the next person.
(Unless its O'Leary!)

Do you apply the same logic to Christmas Day ? It is, by all accounts a Christian holiday after all, no room for it in a multicultural society ? ?

Overheal

Its not a Religious Holiday in the States. Yet, here in the awl' Bible Belt, the Friday just happens to be the start of the Spring Break. Not sure if its a Bank Holiday. I just know I was off work, but my bosses are Religious and thats their call.

Similarly the Winter Break accomodates Christmas.

BANZAI_RUNNER

as my sig. says, the more bank holidays we have the better etc.......lol