Bank Holidays
Posted on December 26th, 2007 by admin
“Britons currently enjoy eight bank holidays compared with 11 in France, 15 in Germany and 16 in Spain. Slovenia is top in Europe with 18 days.”
No, we don’t “enjoy” eight bank holidays. We are forced into taking days off when we’d rather not. Bank Holidays cost employers and without them, we’d be able to have more days off when we chose or higher wages. They are also inefficient. They create extra demand on roads and airports that would otherwise be spread over the year.
Britain is almost unique in Europe in having no bank holidays between the summer and Christmas.
Good. At least if I’m forced to take time off, I’d like it to be when the sun’s shining.
RSS
These number of bank holiday comparisons are at least partly misleading. In the UK the 8 days happen regardless on which day of the week they fall. If they fall on a weekend they are moved to a weekday.
I’m not sure about other countries, but in Germany this doesn’t happen. If a “moveable” holiday (like Christmas, New Years Day, Day of German Unity) falls on a weekend, then tough, you don’t get the following Monday (or in some cases Tuesday) off. That can reduce the number of 15 quite significantly.
I suppose these countries celebrate saints more than us, hence the bank holidays. Anyway, let’s enjoy new year and best wishes to you and your family.