Bank holidays: any views on the proposed changes?

[Backdrifter]

I'm reading that it's been proposed to scrap the May Day bank hol and replace with either a St George's Day one or an October one. For no reason other than the spacing-out of them, I like the October idea, although why they can't give us both...

[R1Geezer]

how about Thatcher Day, 13th October??

.....Stands back and waits for the rabid Thatcher hate mob!

[brionon]

May Day is the 1st. of May. Do you have a holiday on that day ? please.

[boxtops]

May Day is celebrated now on the first Monday after the first of May. The old May Day was the day when people danced around maypoles, but for some May 1 still smacks of the MayDay Communist parades. Moving it to the autumn would certainly spread out the holidays - having them all in April is May is very hard for planning work holidays.

[Buenchico]

As I've stated before, I'd prefer the complete abolition of all public holidays (with the possible exception of those over the Christmas and New Year period).

I'm most definitely NOT suggesting that anyone should receive less holiday than they do now. However, as things stand, someone who gets the statutory minimum of 28 days paid holiday (for those who work 5 or 6 days per week) and whose firm is closed on public holidays, has 8 days of their holiday fixed (quite possibly on dates which aren't where they really want them) and 20 days 'to play with'. (i.e. which can be agreed between the employee and the employer). If 5 of the current public holidays were abolished (leaving just Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year's Day), the employee could then have 5 full weeks of holiday each year instead of 4.

Chris

[ttfn]

I would like to see Trafalgar Day thus marked. I think there is a plethora of bank holidays too close together, especially if Easter is later rather than earlier. Apologies to St. George. but I have no problem with celebrating a defeat of the French and Spanish ;o)

[Backdrifter]

@ R1Geezer - Totally agree about Thatcher Day, with one modification: it'd have to be on or near 22 November, in order to celebrate the glorious day she resigned after being hilariously back-stabbed by her own Cabinet. Excellent idea, well done!

[237SJ]

I would like to see the May Day bank holiday scrapped. There are too many bank holidays too close together at that time of year. Putting one in October would spread them out a bit and break up the long period between the end of August and Christmas (not that it makes much difference to me as I work them anyway)

[4getmenot]

makes no difference to me, I have to book them off work whatever

[Jemisa]

IMO every day is a holiday when you're an OAP. -ahh lovely!!

jem

[douglas9401]

Now THAT'S an answer Jemisa, ENJOY! :)

[237SJ]

The trouble with bank holidays (when you have to work them) is that they are such an inconvenience. When I come home from work I want to phone the bank, solicitor or other office and everything is shut. I would like the May Day holiday to shift to October purely to spread out the inconvenience.