We're not ones to delve too deep into politics here at LADBible but every now then there's a cause so pressing we're left with no choice but to draw a line in the sand.
That time has once again come as the People Before Profit party has recently introduced a bill that, if passed, would see a further three bank holidays introduced in each calendar year.
The party has suggested we establish additional bank holidays on February 1, the last Monday in September, and the last Monday in November every year hence forth. These would be incremental bank holidays to the 9 existing bank holidays currently in the calendar.
Compared to many of our European counterparts, we are somewhat lagging behind in terms of national holidays and paid time off. In Ireland, employees are legally entitled to a minimum of 20 paid days of annual leave, as well as the aforementioned 9 bank holidays. In France however, citizens enjoy a total of 30 days annual leave a year plus 11 bank holidays.
Spanish and Portuguese citizens enjoy 13 bank holidays every year.
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"We think it's absolutely necessary to recognise the work of frontline workers though Covid and in general, Irish workers work on average more than two extra weeks a year than the EU average," said Paul Murphy, the party's spokesperson on employment rights.
"Since the beginning of the pandemic workers in Ireland have been working the equivalent of 38 extra hours per month, according to a LinkedIn survey, and have experienced increased stress levels working from home," he continued.
The matter of additional paid time off is one of justice if you ask us, and Murphy it would seem: "It is only right and fair that workers in this country who work extremely hard are rewarded with extra public holidays."
"It's the very least that can be done for workers," he concluded. We quite literally could not agree more.
Featured Image Credit: Photo by Roman Bozhko on UnsplashTopics: Ireland