1st of May? A saturday. October 3? A sunday. Christmas Day and Christmas Day? Saturdays and Sundays. Looking at the calendar made many employees groan. Because in 2021 many holidays fall on the weekend, when most of them are free anyway.
This happens every few years, but in a year when everyone is suffering from the pandemic, it is particularly difficult. At least Dirk Wiese, deputy chairman of the SPDParliamentary group in the Bundestag. He suggests making up for the holidays on regular working days. In view of the considerable burdens caused by the pandemic, this is said to be “Corona-Bonus“see he said im WDR. This would allow employees to recover better, which would ultimately also benefit employers.
More free time for everyone: is that fair?
Jörg Schindler, Federal Managing Director of the Left, also called for an obligation to provide compensation by employers. The working time law must be changed accordingly, he told the “Saarbrücker Zeitung”. The labor market spokeswoman for the Greens, Beate Müller-Gemmeke, argued similarly.
WDR economic expert Wolfgang Landmesser sees the move against a “mute“For many companies. Additional public holidays caused higher labor costs, and that especially when business started up again. In addition, not all professional groups would have additional burdens from Corona.More free time for everyone is not a suitable means – nor is it fair.“
“Economically sensible” or “completely unacceptable”?
Peter Acht, managing director of the trade association NRW, is against it. “That is completely unacceptable, we don’t think so“He told WDR on Tuesday. Many retailers are closed and are already suffering from the pandemic. Additional days off would worsen the situation.
SPD parliamentary group vice Wiese considers the proposal to bemakes economic sense“. With long weekends you would encourage excursions and short vacations and so on “small stimulus“in the field of gastronomy and tourism.
Belgium and Great Britain catch up on public holidays
Proponents of the proposal refer to regulations in Belgium, Luxembourg and Great Britain, where catching up on public holidays has long been the norm. In the United States of America">USA many holidays are generally on weekdays. However, when looking at other countries, one also has to compare the number of vacation days granted to employees.
Holidays are a matter of the country
Ultimately, the decision on subsequent public holidays lies with the respective federal state. Whether the black and yellow government in NRW to have for it seems unlikely, given a cabinet decision from January. According to this, state employees must work on Shrove Monday in 2021. Since 1970, this day has always been free with one exception.
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