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BRITAIN SHOULD INTRODUCE A NEW BANK HOLIDAY
Bank holidays - everybody loves them don't they? Let's have more then! The UK currently has 8 bank holidays each year. We would actually stand to benefit from an extra day off; it is not just an unfeasible dream
Britain should introduce a new Bank Holiday
Yes, because... It gives British workers an extra day of quality free time
Bank holidays are designed to give workers a small respite from the daily grind. The extra time can be utilised for spending time with friends and family, partaking in sports and hobbies, relaxing, all important, yet sometimes overlooked in today’s modern and hectic lifestyles.
This free time may not be spent effectively and would consequently be wasted.
Vote on this point: It gives British workers an extra day of quality free time
See history of changes to this point
Britain should introduce a new Bank Holiday
Yes, because... The UK only has 8 public holidays a year, whereas the EU average is 11
As a nation we have fewer public holidays than many of our EU counterparts. Surely we should be able to match them.
A fair proportion of the extra bank holidays enjoyed by fellow EU countries are on fixed dates so are susceptible to falling on weekends anyway.
Vote on this point: The UK only has 8 public holidays a year, whereas the EU average is 11
See history of changes to this point
Britain should introduce a new Bank Holiday
Yes, because... It would do wonders to decrease work-related stress
Research has shown that 20% of the British workforce suffers from work related stress – a problem that costs our economy a staggering £4.4 billion each year. An additional bank holiday would reduce stress levels and improve employee motivation and consequently productivity.
Additional bank holidays do not necessarily mean that work-related stress decreases. They may even have the opposite effect as the normal routine is being disrupted. France and Germany, who have eleven and nine yearly bank holidays respectively, both suffer from work related stress levels of 28%, higher than in the UK.
Vote on this point: It would do wonders to decrease work-related stress
See history of changes to this point
Britain should introduce a new Bank Holiday
Yes, because... The day can be used to celebrate or commemorate a significant event or group of people
A bank holiday is the perfect opportunity to dedicate an entire day to a specific cause. This could be commemorating a tragedy of the past or a celebration of an anniversary. Whichever of these were chosen, the day would either serve to instill national pride, or to raise the profile of a charitable campaign.
A bank holiday isn't needed, or weekends would be more suitable, as in Remembrance Sunday. Furthermore, there are many charitable campaigns worthy of having their profile raised, but having only one day dedicated to only one of them is unfair.
Vote on this point: The day can be used to celebrate or commemorate a significant event or group of people
See history of changes to this point
Britain should introduce a new Bank Holiday
No, because... The UK economy would suffer
The negative impacts of people not working will be outweighed by the increased spending in the retail and tourism sectors.
If fewer people are working then the economy would ultimately suffer, costing the UK greatly.
Vote on this point: The UK economy would suffer
See history of changes to this point
Britain should introduce a new Bank Holiday
No, because... It is unnecessary – we already have enough holidays
There is no such thing as 'enough holidays' - given the choice i think most people would take as many holidays as possible in a year, if they could afford to. The quality, frequency and duration of our holidays is one of the ways we define our quality of life. Activities such as improving one’s home are an important part of life and should not be laughed off. If people are spending their extra time doing something they enjoy then the time is not being wasted.
As a nation we already have 8 days off a year, not to mention the four weeks statutory paid vacation. Some people will find that this is plenty enough already, and find that their days off are simply spent doing DIY or visiting garden centres, a noticeable trend that has been widely preyed upon by the marketing departments of big name companies. You cannot go a bank holiday weekend without a tirade of sofa sale adverts on the television!
Vote on this point: It is unnecessary – we already have enough holidays
See history of changes to this point
Britain should introduce a new Bank Holiday
No, because... There is no suitable date on which to introduce a public holiday
Research carried out has shown that over 40% of people interviewed favour a bank holiday in the Autumn. It may be possible to establish a suitable date within this period. Otherwise, each country's patron-saint's day is surely suitable. It is ridiculous that these opportunities to celebrate our nation's culture and history receive such little attention.
It is uncertain as to when would be a good time of the year to introduce the bank holiday. The two main religious festivals of Christmas and Easter are well spread within the year and the gaps are already interspersed with bank holidays.
If the spacing of holidays is a problem, then that should be addressed by moving existing holidays and not introducing new ones.
Vote on this point: There is no suitable date on which to introduce a public holiday
See history of changes to this point
Vote on this debate: Britain should introduce a new Bank Holiday
Modified:
27 Nov 2008
Point 1. It gives British workers an extra day of quality free time
Bank holidays are designed to give workers a small respite from the daily grind. The extra time can be utilised for spending time with friends and family, partaking in sports and hobbies, relaxing, all important, yet sometimes overlooked in today’s modern and hectic lifestyles.
This free time may not be spent effectively and would consequently be wasted.
Point 2. The UK only has 8 public holidays a year, whereas the EU average is 11
As a nation we have fewer public holidays than many of our EU counterparts. Surely we should be able to match them.
A fair proportion of the extra bank holidays enjoyed by fellow EU countries are on fixed dates so are susceptible to falling on weekends anyway.
Point 3. It would do wonders to decrease work-related stress
Research has shown that 20% of the British workforce suffers from work related stress – a problem that costs our economy a staggering £4.4 billion each year. An additional bank holiday would reduce stress levels and improve employee motivation and consequently productivity.
Additional bank holidays do not necessarily mean that work-related stress decreases. They may even have the opposite effect as the normal routine is being disrupted. France and Germany, who have eleven and nine yearly bank holidays respectively, both suffer from work related stress levels of 28%, higher than in the UK.
Point 4. The day can be used to celebrate or commemorate a significant event or group of people
A bank holiday is the perfect opportunity to dedicate an entire day to a specific cause. This could be commemorating a tragedy of the past or a celebration of an anniversary. Whichever of these were chosen, the day would either serve to instill national pride, or to raise the profile of a charitable campaign.
A bank holiday isn't needed, or weekends would be more suitable, as in Remembrance Sunday. Furthermore, there are many charitable campaigns worthy of having their profile raised, but having only one day dedicated to only one of them is unfair.
Point 1. The UK economy would suffer
If fewer people are working then the economy would ultimately suffer, costing the UK greatly.
The negative impacts of people not working will be outweighed by the increased spending in the retail and tourism sectors.
Point 2. It is unnecessary – we already have enough holidays
As a nation we already have 8 days off a year, not to mention the four weeks statutory paid vacation. Some people will find that this is plenty enough already, and find that their days off are simply spent doing DIY or visiting garden centres, a noticeable trend that has been widely preyed upon by the marketing departments of big name companies. You cannot go a bank holiday weekend without a tirade of sofa sale adverts on the television!
There is no such thing as 'enough holidays' - given the choice i think most people would take as many holidays as possible in a year, if they could afford to. The quality, frequency and duration of our holidays is one of the ways we define our quality of life. Activities such as improving one’s home are an important part of life and should not be laughed off. If people are spending their extra time doing something they enjoy then the time is not being wasted.
Point 3. There is no suitable date on which to introduce a public holiday
It is uncertain as to when would be a good time of the year to introduce the bank holiday. The two main religious festivals of Christmas and Easter are well spread within the year and the gaps are already interspersed with bank holidays.
If the spacing of holidays is a problem, then that should be addressed by moving existing holidays and not introducing new ones.
Research carried out has shown that over 40% of people interviewed favour a bank holiday in the Autumn. It may be possible to establish a suitable date within this period. Otherwise, each country's patron-saint's day is surely suitable. It is ridiculous that these opportunities to celebrate our nation's culture and history receive such little attention.