Irish workers can look forward to a day off next week with a public holiday on Easter Monday.
It will be the fourth public holiday day so far this year, including the newly introduced one in February to mark St Brigid’s Day.
Its introduction brought Ireland’s total annual number of public holiday days to ten. The average among EU member states is 12.
This week, the Labour Party called for Good Friday to be recognised as an official public holiday to bring us closer to the EU average.
While many workers already have Good Friday off under working agreements or arrangements, it’s officially a normal working day. People in sectors like retail, tourism or hospitality are not entitled to any additional pay or benefits for working on it.
As part of The Conversation from RTÉ’s Upfront with Katie Hannon, we asked two people to join our WhatsApp group to discuss whether Good Friday should be an official public holiday.
Marie Sherlock is a Labour Party senator, based in Dublin.
Kevin Herlihy is President of the Cork Business Association. He is the operations director in The Herlihy Group, which runs several Centra shops across Cork.
Marie Sherlock: Hi Kevin, the situation as it stands is deeply unfair for workers. There is always confusion among workers as to whether Good Friday counts as a public holiday or not.
There are some employers who treat Good Friday as a discretionary day off.
Last year we saw banks close, we know that public libraries, national museums and the vast majority of creches close. However, we know that for the majority of workers in retail, tourism and hospitality, Good Friday is treated as a normal day.
It’s wonderful that retail and hospitality do open, and we want to encourage as much trade on the day as possible, but we want to make sure that those who have to go to work on those days are treated fairly.
Kevin Herlihy: Hi Marie. Are you aware that every time there is a bank holiday, it costs an employer money. This may be fine for large employers, who can afford it.
I represent Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in Cork city and I own seven Centra stores, employing 300 staff.
An extra bank holiday would cost my company €40,000.
Last year, the government introduced a bank holiday for February 2023 with zero consultation with employers.
This has cost SMEs money and to think that another one is warranted is not acceptable in my opinion.
I understand the need for the day to be marked as a religious occasion. There is no need for another public holiday.
Marie Sherlock: Good that we can tease out these issues in a debate.
I come from Cork originally and I know that the Easter bank holiday weekend often sees many tourists go to Cork and there are events and activities specifically scheduled for Good Friday.
So rather than reduce every conversation to costs, I think we need to look at how many traders often do really well on that day.
Kevin Herlihy: It’s beside the point if they do well. Good Friday is a quiet day all round.
If a trader decides to close, then he shouldn’t have to pay his staff.
Businesses are being hit hard enough with energy bills, rates, inflation and staff issues. So I’m afraid cost is the number one factor here.
Marie Sherlock: Ultimately, this is about recognising that Good Friday is a unique day in the Irish calendar. If a trader wants to close, so be it.
I’d prefer to be promoting the notion that traders open and capitalise on the fact that there are more tourists around or people who have the day off, spending their money locally.
There is a wider issue here about how lower wage workers are treated.
It tends to be higher paid workers who get the day off and lower paid workers who have to go to work and we want to level the playing field for all workers – so that if you do go to work, you are remunerated accordingly or get time off in lieu.
It’s important to add that it seems bizarre that retail opposes bank holidays, when I would have thought it was an opportunity to drum up extra business.
Even with February 1 (the newly introduced St Brigid’s Day public holiday), Ireland remains at bottom of EU league when it comes to bank holidays.
Kevin Herlihy: Lower paid workers are predominantly employed by SMEs who cannot afford yet another bank holiday.
You’re wrong there I’m afraid. Having to pay bank holiday pay on top of premium pay (normal plus 5 percent) costs me €34 per hour for each staff member.
That’s okay to take that hit a few days a year – but enough is enough. Also, my security staff charge double on bank holidays under the Private Security Authority (PSA) which costs me €50 per hour for security.
See where I’m coming from?
Marie Sherlock: Even Britain gives Good Friday as a public holiday!
Kevin Herlihy: I wouldn’t take too much notice of what they do.
Marie Sherlock: If I may say so, it’s sad (but not unexpected) that the perspective here is solely about costs and the burden it represents with regards to paying your staff.
The businesses wouldn’t operate if you didn’t have the staff and I’m raising the question about why it should be just a normal day for them when those same workers. Your workers can’t access a bank on that day, they can’t access childcare and they can’t access most public buildings.
Ultimately, we have a wider issue here of how we support low wage workers and every time there is a mention of a minimum wage rise (usually an inadequate rise) or any improvement in working conditions for lower wage workers (for example, paid sick leave), there is massive resistance from certain employers who see their staff as just another cost to the business.
Kevin Herlihy: Sorry you think it’s sad, but this is fact. Being in business is extremely difficult and I think your party are unaware of the reality of that.
I think getting four weeks holidays and ten bank holidays per year is sufficient. I offer plenty of incentives to staff. Days out, gym membership, discounted meals while working among many others.
Marie Sherlock: Thanks Kevin for engaging – we’ll agree to disagree!
Kevin Herlihy: The Labour Party needs a reality check. It shows how far from reality they are. They are obviously anti-SME and must be doing this to buy votes. They won’t be getting mine!
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Read last week’s edition of The Conversation, where we asked what the future holds for Irish neutrality, here.
