This weekend we, in Englsnd & Wales, have two bank holidays or public holidays), and, in quick succession, there's both May Day and Whitsun. In all, on a normal non-Jubilee and non-Royal Wedding year, we get 8 days off in this manner.
We're actually quite low in the league table of days off for public holidays compared to other countries around the world, and there is what feels like a interminable campaign to make the anniversary of the Battle of Trafalgar into an extra day's holiday in the autumn (always good to celebrate historic military victories over what are now close political allies - NOT!).
People seem to like bank holidays; I guess people just like having a day off.
I find bsnk holidays both patronising and feudalist.
Yes, workers should have a number of days off each year and it is right that there is legislation to protect those days off from any unscrupulous employer, but, really, in the 21st century do we really want a government to dictate when we have to take those days off?
Isn't that a bit of an archaic approach to labour laws?
Surely we should be able, in negotiation with our employer, be able to choose when we have those days off?
As an atheist, I don't want days off to celebrate fictional events from 2,000 years ago, but I might want a couple of days off in September instead. And if I want to spend those days with my friends or family, is it beyong the wit of man for us to be able to organise our calendars in such a way that we are all off together?
Ok, some jobs have restrictions on when holidays can be taken. Teachers, for instance, can't take a couple of weeks off mid-term and that makes sense, but I don't see why any government has a right to choose my days off for me.
