22nd August 2008
An extra bank holiday in the name of community volunteering would boost the economy, according to the TUC.
The group's report Why the UK can afford a Community Day calls for a day of volunteering in late October. It claims that almost one million UK customer-facing businesses, such as those in retail, leisure and hospitality, would see higher revenues.
In addition to more people going away for short breaks, bank holidays encourage more days out, bringing an estimated £90 billion boost each year to the economy, the report says.
The report also claims that an extra day off each year would improve employees' productivity and morale.
England and Wales currently have eight bank holidays a year - less than the EU average of almost 11 days. Only Romania has fewer.
TUC general secretary Brendan Barber said: "A community day would encourage more people to take up volunteering for a day.
"In return, employers will have a healthier, happier and more productive workforce."
The Community Day Campaign is backed by the TUC, the National Council for Voluntary Organisations (NCVO), Community Service Volunteers (CSV) and the National Association for Voluntary and Community Action (NAVCA).
A Department for Business spokesman said there were no plans to change the pattern of bank holidays, though highlighted the statutory increase to 28 days' annual leave from April next year.
They said: "We recognise that family and community life are very important and we are committed to promoting an effective work-life balance.
"But there are other ways of achieving this rather than increasing the number of public holidays."
Unions call for 'community' bank holiday
The group's report Why the UK can afford a Community Day calls for a day of volunteering in late October. It claims that almost one million UK customer-facing businesses, such as those in retail, leisure and hospitality, would see higher revenues.
In addition to more people going away for short breaks, bank holidays encourage more days out, bringing an estimated £90 billion boost each year to the economy, the report says.
The report also claims that an extra day off each year would improve employees' productivity and morale.
England and Wales currently have eight bank holidays a year - less than the EU average of almost 11 days. Only Romania has fewer.
TUC general secretary Brendan Barber said: "A community day would encourage more people to take up volunteering for a day.
"In return, employers will have a healthier, happier and more productive workforce."
The Community Day Campaign is backed by the TUC, the National Council for Voluntary Organisations (NCVO), Community Service Volunteers (CSV) and the National Association for Voluntary and Community Action (NAVCA).
A Department for Business spokesman said there were no plans to change the pattern of bank holidays, though highlighted the statutory increase to 28 days' annual leave from April next year.
They said: "We recognise that family and community life are very important and we are committed to promoting an effective work-life balance.
"But there are other ways of achieving this rather than increasing the number of public holidays."
Tags: Employment
- 5th January 2009 Businesses urged to make redundancies 'last resort'
- 5th January 2009 'Cut interest rate to 1%' says business group
- 2nd January 2009 Gloomier forecast from business group
Delicious
Digg
reddit
Facebook
StumbleUpon