It’s not such a good Friday
We call it a ‘bank holiday’ but most have to turn up for work. It’s high time bosses cleared up all the confusion, says HR firm
ACCORDING to the Church calendar, today is Good Friday – but it’s not so ‘good’ for workers lounging around at home today: they may well be in trouble with the boss.
The day is usually referred to as a ‘bank holiday’ because many bank branches are closed, and bank workers and civil servants get the day off. But most of the rest of us are obliged to put in a regular working day.
Now a top human resources company has called on firms to clear up the confusion.
The Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) says bosses have a duty to remind their staff that today isn’t a public holiday and if we want to make the Easter period a four-day weekend, we can only do it if our employer lets us. Director of CIPD Ireland Mary Connaughton said: ‘We hear from our members that Good Friday is the day that causes most confusion for them and their employees. The fact is, it’s just a normal working day. It’s not actually a public holiday.’
She added: ‘So although some workplaces, like banks and the civil service, might have a policy of including it as a day off, not everyone is legally entitled to it, and if you do have to work, you only get a normal day’s pay.’
However, she said, employers should address the issue early before it becomes a problem.
‘Clear communication is never a bad thing in business, so it’s best to avoid this annual confusion if possible,’ said Ms Connaughton. ‘We advise companies to send out a note clarifying their policy several weeks in advance, so workers know where they stand.’
The Irish Small and Medium Enterprises association said Good Friday presents much confusion for members, as it is often called a ‘bank holiday’ due to the fact that workers in the financial sector are entitled to a paid day off.
In its advice to businesses, Isme says: ‘Some organisations do provide Good Friday as a “company day” but there is no obligation to do this. However, if as a business owner you have previously provided Good Friday as a company day, there might be precedent for employees to continue to receive it.’
HR Advisor for Isme, Mark O’Connor doesn’t have figures on how many companies allow a ‘company day’ for Good Friday, but anecdotally the practice is more common in professional and administrative organisations than customer service businesses which usually remain open for this busy shopping day.
However, Easter Monday definitely is a public holiday and employers are entitled to that day off. If they have to work, they will earn a day off in its place or payment in lieu.
One group of employees who are not set for the day off, as they previously would have had, are those working in pubs and off-licences, as this is the second Good Friday since the ban on the sale of alcohol is lifted. Publicans reported brisk
Some allow a ‘company day’
trade on Good Friday last year, but they are not sure whether the novelty of the occasion will have worn off by today.
The Good Friday ban formed part of the 1927 Intoxicating Liquor Act, which originally prohibited the sale of alcohol on Christmas Day, St Patrick’s Day and Good Friday. The St Patrick’s Day ban was removed in 1960, while the Christmas Day prohibition remains in place.