Public Holidays
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So here's something I've been thinking about.
We'll all be in lockdown over Easter. So the Friday and the Monday aren't exactly public holidays by nature, although for those of us using annual leave at that stage, it's two less days we have to take. Otherwise unless you're observing Good Friday and Easter Sunday for religious reasons, they're days like any other among the lockdown.
I wonder if any thought is being given at Govt level to managing those days differently. My initial thought was it would be good to have the days off a month or two later down thr track, but like I say this causes issues with people's annual leave balances and such. Anyone got any thoughts on whether this could be managed differently? Or just forego the actual days off this year?
The other one is ANZAC Day which all going to plan will be observed just two working days after the lockdown is lifted. For mine, this could be moved back, as a one off. I know my industry will be flat tack catching up as soon as the lockdown is lifted and the last thing we'll need is everyone off again just two days deep.
Extraordinary times call for extraordinary measures in many ways.
Thoughts?
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I would imagine essential workers will be crying out for a day off, either on the actual holidays or as an alternative holiday (fka day in lieu) later if they work on the holidays. Employees working from home would still have a use for the holidays as well. Apparently about half of the work force is idle currently, so the issue only applies to that half.
Businesses which are closed and making no money but are receiving the wage subsidy are probably better off leaving them as they are than if the observed days were moved legislatively (this would probably be done using similar language to the existing Monday-isation clauses).
Employees and employers can agree to transfer holidays (section 44B of the Holidays Act), so that's an option in individual cases.
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@shark said in Public Holidays:
So here's something I've been thinking about.
We'll all be in lockdown over Easter. So the Friday and the Monday aren't exactly public holidays by nature, although for those of us using annual leave at that stage, it's two less days we have to take. Otherwise unless you're observing Good Friday and Easter Sunday for religious reasons, they're days like any other among the lockdown.
I wonder if any thought is being given at Govt level to managing those days differently. My initial thought was it would be good to have the days off a month or two later down thr track, but like I say this causes issues with people's annual leave balances and such. Anyone got any thoughts on whether this could be managed differently? Or just forego the actual days off this year?
The other one is ANZAC Day which all going to plan will be observed just two working days after the lockdown is lifted. For mine, this could be moved back, as a one off. I know my industry will be flat tack catching up as soon as the lockdown is lifted and the last thing we'll need is everyone off again just two days deep.
Extraordinary times call for extraordinary measures in many ways.
Thoughts?
I don't think their should be any change to it. As Godder says, the people that are actually working will either want a day off or get double time if they have to work (or what ever the deal is)
It's just an unfortunate yet irrelevant timing given what we are trying to solve at the moment.
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@Hooroo I don't personally want to 'July-ise' Easter or anything, am playing devils' advocate with that one. But ANZAC Day is a different story. Having a day off and a long weekend after the vast majority of the population have been at home for four weeks - alebit working from home in many cases, well and truly including me - seems really unneccessary. Queens' Birthday is only five weeks later, so I'd still do the dawn parades and stuff on the actual day but move the day off for ANZAC Day to July or August. You can almost guarantee a lot of the workforce will take this into their own hands and will be working that day and given a day off in lieu; I know a huge chunk of the construction industry will go that way.
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@dogmeat said in Public Holidays:
@shark I reckon we will still be in lockdown. ANZAC ceremonies will be cancelled and we will al be able to sit at home and watch some small commemoration on TV plus lot's of old doco's.
ANZAC ceremonies already cancelled in NZ and Oz
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yeah the vets here realised we were not going to be able to observe Anzac Day as we would normally do. However we can see the Carillion from the deck here so we've already planned (like at least a week ago) that on ANZAC Day, the four of us are going to observe it ourselves from the Deck. For me, it's a huge comfort being able to do this with the Carillion in sight. It's not m,uch but just figuring out shit and the tiny wee bit of planning has been helpful mentally.
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@SynicBast said in Public Holidays:
yeah the vets here realised we were not going to be able to observe Anzac Day as we would normally do. However we can see the Carillion from the deck here so we've already planned (like at least a week ago) that on ANZAC Day, the four of us are going to observe it ourselves from the Deck. For me, it's a huge comfort being able to do this with the Carillion in sight. It's not m,uch but just figuring out shit and the tiny wee bit of planning has been helpful mentally.
They should do some sort of broadcast on the day to bring people together. Perhaps it is already in the works
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@canefan said in Public Holidays:
@SynicBast said in Public Holidays:
yeah the vets here realised we were not going to be able to observe Anzac Day as we would normally do. However we can see the Carillion from the deck here so we've already planned (like at least a week ago) that on ANZAC Day, the four of us are going to observe it ourselves from the Deck. For me, it's a huge comfort being able to do this with the Carillion in sight. It's not m,uch but just figuring out shit and the tiny wee bit of planning has been helpful mentally.
They should do some sort of broadcast on the day to bring people together. Perhaps it is already in the works
Stuff going around social media to be at your front gate at normal local dawn service time. Might not work for everyone, but townies it would be good idea. My daily exercise will be past the flagstaff and drop off a poppy I brought before the lock down went in place for this.
Sad, first one missed in NZ since Tinui 1916.
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Think of it this way, it's not being missed, we just can't hold mass commemorations. In a way I think it might actually be better for a few former serving people , myself included to have the whole thing dialled back to an individual level. I know several who don't attend the big events or march anyway as the media coverage does get in their face a little. I 'm fucking lucky as we have a little support net of our own in the lodge and all of us are back in our hometown, with a sightline to the Carillion. Can't get much more perfect in the current circumstances.
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When I discussed ANZAC Day with a mate of mine (via Skype) a few days ago, his youngest girl heard it and suggested that everyone should put a poppy on the bear they have in front of their window (she still counts them every day on their daily walk around the block). It was very cute to hear an 8-year-old actively think about it, this way.
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@Stargazer I don't have a bear, but (long story) I do have a Doug Howlett gollie, which is in my front window. He's in his AB uniform with a Buzzy Bee bow tie and already wears a poppy with pride.
Hope the fucking anklebiters appreciate him. This coronavirus is making me soft....
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@Stargazer said in Public Holidays:
When I discussed ANZAC Day with a mate of mine (via Skype) a few days ago, his youngest girl heard it and suggested that everyone should put a poppy on the bear they have in front of their window (she still counts them every day on their daily walk around the block). It was very cute to hear an 8-year-old actively think about it, this way.
that story just broke me.