Tired workers call for new bank holiday

01/10/2008

Exhausted employees have called for a new bank holiday to give them some respite from the stresses of working life, a survey has found.

Eight in 10 workers want an extra holiday during October, the survey by employment law firm Peninsula revealed, while more than 90% agreed there should be at least one new bank holiday each year.

Almost 70% said they are worried Christmas day will no longer be a day off in the near future.

The organisation said providing an extra bank holiday could be an easy way to keep staff ‘well-motivated and rested’, which would help businesses boost productivity.

“Maybe its’ time for a sensible debate to discuss the needs of an extra bank holiday,” said Peter Done, Peninsula’s managing director.

“Employers may argue productivity is at risk so sensible discussion would need to take place, looking at what effect, if any, time off will have on the economy,” he added.

“The general consensus is that a bank holiday would be welcomed in the autumn as it gives employee the opportunity to break up the time between August bank holiday and Christmas.

“A decade ago, asking for more bank holidays and extra time off work would have been frowned upon, but in today’s society of improved work/life balance it seems employees are winning the battle of extended rights,” he said.