Should Good Friday be a Public Bank Holiday?

oppenheimer1 · 29-03-2010 11:44PM #1

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 · 29-03-2010 11:47PM

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

rubadub · 29-03-2010 11:48PM

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 · 29-03-2010 11:59PM

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

oppenheimer1 · 30-03-2010 12:00AM

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 · 30-03-2010 12:01AM

Every Friday should be a bank holiday.

30-03-2010 12:13AM

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

but isn't a public holiday.

oppenheimer1 · 30-03-2010 12:14AM

Deleted User wrote: »

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

but isn't a public holiday.

Good point!

Gyalist · 30-03-2010 12:16AM

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

Edit: Oops, beaten to it by pg633

El Weirdo · 30-03-2010 12:17AM

Gyalist wrote: »

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

Oooooooh... So close!

rubadub · 30-03-2010 12:18AM

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 · 30-03-2010 12:20AM

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

oppenheimer1 · 30-03-2010 12:24AM

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 · 30-03-2010 12:30AM

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 · 30-03-2010 02:07AM

So your asking me would I like Friday off?

Yes, yes I would.

Dravokivich · 30-03-2010 02:15AM

Fúck no....

!!!!

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

stovelid · 30-03-2010 08:20AM

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 · 30-03-2010 08:34AM

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 · 30-03-2010 08:47AM

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

GavRedKing · 30-03-2010 09:06AM

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

30-03-2010 09:36AM

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 · 30-03-2010 09:42AM

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 · 30-03-2010 09:49AM

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 · 30-03-2010 10:58AM

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

walshkvn · 30-03-2010 11:09AM

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

Wazdakka · 30-03-2010 11:19AM

Atari Drunkenly eating meat-uar Tbh...

egan2020 · 30-03-2010 11:21AM

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 · 30-03-2010 11:50AM

Any excuse for a day off, so yes

.

nibtrix · 30-03-2010 12:00PM

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 · 30-03-2010 12:33PM

Yes

Jaxxy · 30-03-2010 12:55PM

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!

Should Good Friday be a Public Bank Holiday?

Should Good Friday be a Public Bank Holiday? 78 votes

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