Working Good Friday

threebagsfull

This isn't a huge problem, but I was told to work Good Friday and I explained that although it's not a public holiday (my manager is not used to the customs here) that I would be the only person in my building so I have to make special arrangements for this. I asked if I could take it as a holiday but was refused. I know this day won't be busy.

It's been a while since I've worked in an office in Ireland around Easter so I'm just wondering are many others expected to Good Friday? I wouldn't mind if there was a particular reason I needed to be in.

nibtrix

I'm working on Good Friday, although about 80% of the company will be off. People had to take it out of their own annual leave though as it's not given as a free day.

Is there anyway you can work from home, seeing as the building will be closed apart from you?

Mrs OBumble

Everyone who works in a multi-national is expected to be in, unless they have annual leave.

All public transport services (well all in Galway anyways, I've not checked Dublin) will be running as usual - these workers will be at work.

All shops are open, AFAIK.

toadfly

I've always worked Good Friday & Christmas Eve, seems to be days that people would expect to get off but in my work you'd have to take AL.

miezekatze

It's not a public holiday here, I think most people would be working that day. For me it's just a regular working day, I'd have to take a day's holiday if I wanted to have the day off.

Firefox11

I worked for a multinational and and it was a normal working day like any else.

In fact in the department I was working, Irish bank holiday days were classed as a normal working day unless you had the day booked off.

threebagsfull

As I said, I'm aware that it's a public holiday and asked could I take that as my own holiday.
I just think it's a bit stingy to be refused when I know there's nothing on that day.
If I were more religious I'd be even more put out. There are plenty of multinationals in this building, but I'll be the only one here apparently. I'm not entirely comfortable with that given that there have been recent break ins.

Mrs OBumble

If you were more religious, you would have booked the leave weeks ago.

If you have personal security concerns, go back to your manager with them and with some potential solutions.

messrs

threebagsfull wrote: »

This isn't a huge problem, but I was told to work Good Friday and I explained that although it's not a public holiday (my manager is not used to the customs here) that I would be the only person in my building so I have to make special arrangements for this. I asked if I could take it as a holiday but was refused. I know this day won't be busy.

It's been a while since I've worked in an office in Ireland around Easter so I'm just wondering are many others expected to Good Friday? I wouldn't mind if there was a particular reason I needed to be in.

Are you allowed to be in the building on your own for H&S reasons? That cant be right?

davo10

messrs wrote: »

Are you allowed to be in the building on your own for H&S reasons? That cant be right?

What? Why can't it be right and what H&S reasons? Are you saying that every office requires more than one person to be working at any one time?

Mr. Loverman

threebagsfull wrote: »

I just think it's a bit stingy to be refused when I know there's nothing on that day.

You're being asked to work that day. There is a reason they need you there. Managers have no interest in asking people to work for no reason.

messrs

davo10 wrote: »

What? Why can't it be right and what H&S reasons? Are you saying that every office requires more than one person to be working at any one time?

Sorry H&S = Health & Safety - like what would happen if you were to have an accident or fall or faint or anything like that - there would be no one else in the building to know. Don't know if its law or anything but I do know anywhere ive ever worked 1 person could never be working alone in the office

threebagsfull

Mr. Loverman wrote: »

You're being asked to work that day. There is a reason they need you there. Managers have no interest in asking people to work for no reason.

I will have almost nothing to do unless I decide to shuffle some papers. That's a separate issue which I'm dealing with. But don't claim to understand all management.

I just wanted to get a general idea of how many offices really would be open, as this building will be empty and there are about 30 companies here. I understand some people will always have to work these days, this just relates to offices in the private sector whose business would not prevent them from at least allowing annual leave. From responses here it's not clear what percentage will be open but I guess I don't desperately need to know.

Lux23

messrs wrote: »

Sorry H&S = Health & Safety - like what would happen if you were to have an accident or fall or faint or anything like that - there would be no one else in the building to know. Don't know if its law or anything but I do know anywhere ive ever worked 1 person could never be working alone in the office

Exactly, would they bring in a security guard just so one person could work, seems like a silly request to me.

messrs

Lux23 wrote: »

Exactly, would they bring in a security guard just so one person could work, seems like a silly request to me.

i never said anything about bringing in a security guard, i don't know what type of environment the OP works in, i was speaking from my own experience, where i work in a office and there would never be just 1 person on their own in the office at any time

davo10

messrs wrote: »

Sorry H&S = Health & Safety - like what would happen if you were to have an accident or fall or faint or anything like that - there would be no one else in the building to know. Don't know if its law or anything but I do know anywhere ive ever worked 1 person could never be working alone in the office

I know what H&S is, I'm just wondering how it applies in a case where one person works in an office. A huge percentage of small businesses including solicitors have only one person working in their office.

threebagsfull

messrs wrote: »

i never said anything about bringing in a security guard, i don't know what type of environment the OP works in, i was speaking from my own experience, where i work in a office and there would never be just 1 person on their own in the office at any time

I see what you mean. It looks like it is legal for me to work on my own in the building, although I did previously work in offices where this wouldn't be allowed, but that's probably company policy.

threebagsfull

davo10 wrote: »

I know what H&S is, I'm just wondering how it applies in a case where one person works in an office. A huge percentage of small businesses including solicitors have only one person working in their office.

To be fair, in most of those cases, the one person alone is the Director, and not an employee.

smeal

Ooo we get Good Friday off without having to take it out of AL.. However we aren't open on Tuesday also and have to take it out of AL.

MadDog76

I haven't worked a Good Friday in years but always had to take it out my Annual Leave ......... this year I'll be working which I'm delighted with as I now have an extra day's holiday which I can use when I want to as opposed to wasting it on a quiet Good Friday with the pubs closed!

Poster2014

Firefox11 wrote: »

I worked for a multinational and and it was a normal working day like any else.

In fact in the department I was working, Irish bank holiday days were classed as a normal working day unless you had the day booked off.

Same as my situation, as I rely on public transport to get to work made things a bit difficult last year.

davo10

threebagsfull wrote: »

To be fair, in most of those cases, the one person alone is the Director, and not an employee.

No they aren't, they are secretaries or assistants etc. Think about how many solicitors offices, doctors clinics, accountants, shops, cafes etc you have been into where there was only one other person bar the owner/manager working. I don't think my solicitor phones a temp to come in and be with his secretary every time he is out of the office or away on holiday. This is off topic and a bit silly, good Friday is a working day like any other so there is no entitlement to time off.

MadDog76

I wonder if one was devoutly Catholic could you force your employer to allow you the day off (unpaid or annual leave) on religious grounds?

bee06

With every company I've worked for I've had to work on good Friday but they've all be multinationals. Smaller, Irish run companies seem to close then based on my friends experience.

It's strange that you're the only one in your company working though.

threebagsfull

davo10 wrote: »

No they aren't, they are secretaries or assistants etc. Think about how many solicitors offices, doctors clinics, accountants, shops, cafes etc you have been into where there was only one other person bar the owner/manager working. I don't think my solicitor phones a temp to come in and be with his secretary every time he is out of the office or away on holiday. This is off topic and a bit silly, good Friday is a working day like any other so there is no entitlement to time off.

davo10 wrote: »

I know what H&S is, I'm just wondering how it applies in a case where one person works in an office. A huge percentage of small businesses including solicitors have only one person working in their office.

First of all, you were wondering how it applies to people working in an office. So why use doctor's surgeries, cafes and shops as examples? There are a lot of office-based businesses out there but most would share offices / buildings. Small businesses that choose to employ one other person and pay the rent for one stand alone office would be in the minority when shared offices are so economical.

I work on my own 75% of the time, it's only a bit of an issue because the entire building is empty and there were attempted robberies last week.

threebagsfull

bee06 wrote: »

With every company I've worked for I've had to work on good Friday but they've all be multinationals. Smaller, Irish run companies seem to close then based on my friends experience.

It's strange that you're the only one in your company working though.

The only one in the building, so it's actually a lot of companies. Well if the multinationals are really working, fair enough.

ohnonotgmail

smeal wrote: »

Ooo we get Good Friday off without having to take it out of AL.. However we aren't open on Tuesday also and have to take it out of AL.

Me too. Its the only decent perk of working where i do.

hfallada

MadDog76 wrote: »

I wonder if one was devoutly Catholic could you force your employer to allow you the day off (unpaid or annual leave) on religious grounds?

Why? AFAIK having gone to catholic schools for 14 years(which were pretty hardcore like prayer before every class and monthly mass). All you do on good Friday is go to Mass and not eat meat. There will be variety of mass times so you won't miss it if you work.

Muslims dont demand Fridays off to go to the mosque. So fast through Ramadan and still go to work.

I imagine if you demand good Friday off for religious reasons your boss will laugh at you

MadDog76

hfallada wrote: »

Why? AFAIK having gone to catholic schools for 14 years(which were pretty hardcore like prayer before every class and monthly mass). All you do on good Friday is go to Mass and not eat meat. There will be variety of mass times so you won't miss it if you work.

Muslims dont demand Fridays off to go to the mosque. So fast through Ramadan and still go to work.

I imagine if you demand good Friday off for religious reasons your boss will laugh at you

Is that just your opinion or ......... ???

Sleeper12

It's a regular working day for most people. An Post work and there will be normal postal service on Good Friday.

threebagsfull

Sleeper12 wrote: »

It's a regular working day for most people. An Post work and there will be normal postal service on Good Friday.

I'm not sure it's possible to work out whether it is for most people.

But according to An Post and I think I saw some other threads here, it is not normal postal service on Good Friday. It looks like some areas around Dublin will be getting post.

looksee

There used be a tradition that you could ask for an hour off up to 3pm on Good Friday for religious observances.

OldMrBrennan83

This post has been deleted.

threebagsfull

Patww79 wrote: »

This post has been deleted.

As in my first post, I am fully aware it's not a PH. I had to explain that to my employer.
And whether you think they should be working or not, they are certainly not all working.

biko

Everyone in my company work Good Friday.

enda1

Why would you expect your employer to pay for you to stay at home on a working day? That seems bizarre to me.

Amirani

It's a bank holiday so I'm off.

Mrs OBumble

hfallada wrote: »

Why? AFAIK having gone to catholic schools for 14 years(which were pretty hardcore like prayer before every class and monthly mass). All you do on good Friday is go to Mass and not eat meat. There will be variety of mass times so you won't miss it if you work.

Ahh, that's a pretty epic fail on the religious education front:

Good Friday is actually the one day when no Roman Catholic church in the world is allowed to celebrate Mass. There is no official doctrine saying that you have to go the service that they do hold (the Lord's Passion - traditionally at 3pm, and most places in Galway at least seem to be keeping to it) either. The only obligation that Catholicism enforces that day is not eating meat. So it would be pretty hard to demand it off for religious reasons, unless you were a McDonald's QA inspector or suchlike.




Back on topic:

OP, on the health and safety front, you may want to consider things like making sure that your company's door is locked, but that there are lights on and music playing around the building so that potential robbers believe there are lots of people around.

i've worked alone in office buildings a number of times, you do need to think about safety issues (eg in multi-story blocks, now where the alternative exit stairs are in case you hear burglars), But unless your work is particularly risky (eg aggressive clients, physical demands, access to confidential files that required two persons present) or you personally have some risk factors (eg diabetic) there is no reason to say you cannot be alone. It's all about the risks.

threebagsfull

enda1 wrote: »

Why would you expect your employer to pay for you to stay at home on a working day? That seems bizarre to me.

??? Again, I asked could I take it as a holiday. Do you never take holidays?

OP, on the health and safety front, you may want to consider things like making sure that your company's door is locked, but that there are lights on and music playing around the building so that potential robbers believe there are lots of people around.

The lights will be on, I can't arrange for music to be played, there is no system for that. I'll keep the door locked, but the loo is outside. Fingers crossed.

J Mysterio

I'm working but most of continental Europe is off Friday and Monday. Sweden, Denmark (and I think Norway among others) have Thursday off too... The fckers.

J Mysterio

threebagsfull wrote: »

??? Again, I asked could I take it as a holiday. Do you never take holidays?


The lights will be on, I can't arrange for music to be played, there is no system for that. I'll keep the door locked, but the loo is outside. Fingers crossed.

Don't be such a pansy.... and if you are working in a big building with many multinationals present, there will definitely be others working.

mikemac1

Mrs OBumble wrote: »

Everyone who works in a multi-national is expected to be in, unless they have annual leave.

Not if you work in a multinational bank

ABajaninCork

You know - I keep forgetting Friday is NOT a Bank Holiday here...

My husband will be working. I was getting lunch stuff for him, and just mentioned I only got a little bit as he won't be working Friday. I was met with a very strange look!

I've only been here 7 years!

theteal

The multinational FM company's head office I work in is closed on Friday :smugbaxtard:

I must check if the Dublin office is open. . .

tmh106

Firefox11 wrote: »

I worked for a multinational and and it was a normal working day like any else.

In fact in the department I was working, Irish bank holiday days were classed as a normal working day unless you had the day booked off.

I doubt that's legal. Good Friday is not a public holiday, so perfectly normal that you have to work on it.

But public holidays are a legal entitlement as far as I know, so you have to be given the day off unless you have some prior contractual arrangement with your employer - in which cased I'd expect you to be paid as if doing overtime on a Sunday, though that is obviously subject to negotiation.

efb

ABajaninCork wrote: »

You know - I keep forgetting Friday is NOT a Bank Holiday here...

My husband will be working. I was getting lunch stuff for him, and just mentioned I only got a little bit as he won't be working Friday. I was met with a very strange look!

I've only been here 7 years!

It is a BANK HOLIDAY
It's not a PUBLIC HOLIDAY

So no entitlement to leave

MadDog76

Patww79 wrote: »

This post has been deleted.

Try telling that to my local Barman ......... he's even shutting the pub down for the day!?!

Lazy bastard!!!! :mad:

MadDog76

tmh106 wrote: »

I doubt that's legal. Good Friday is not a public holiday, so perfectly normal that you have to work on it.

But public holidays are a legal entitlement as far as I know, so you have to be given the day off unless you have some prior contractual arrangement with your employer - in which cased I'd expect you to be paid as if doing overtime on a Sunday, though that is obviously subject to negotiation.

Everyone is legally entitled to Public Holidays off???
That can't be right???

Poster2014

No they're not, if you want them off you have to give your employer 2 weeks notice to have it off. If you give this notice though doesn't count as a AL day

geosynchronous orbit

Poster2014 wrote: »

No they're not, if you want them off you have to give your employer 2 weeks notice to have it off. If you give this notice though doesn't count as a AL day

Such misinformed bull crap !!

Your entitlement to public holidays is set out in the Organisation of Working Time Act 1997. Most employees are entitled to paid leave on public holidays. One exception is part-time employees who have not worked for their employer at least 40 hours in total in the 5 weeks before the public holiday.

Employees who qualify for public holiday benefit will be entitled to one of the following:

A paid day off on the public holiday
An additional day of annual leave
An additional day's pay
A paid day off within a month of the public holiday

The Organisation of Working Time Act provides that you may ask your employer at least 21 days before a public holiday, which of the alternatives will apply. If your employer fails to respond at least 14 days before the public holiday, you are entitled to take the actual public holiday as a paid day off.

The Organisation of Working Time (Determination of Pay For Holidays) Regulations (SI 475/1997) set out the appropriate rate of daily pay.

ABajaninCork

efb wrote: »

It is a BANK HOLIDAY
It's not a PUBLIC HOLIDAY

So no entitlement to leave

Whatever. I think most posters knew what I meant...