Tauranga insurance advisory practice, Financial Independence, is giving its staff the day off on February 14 to compensate for this year's missed public holidays.
This year, Waitangi Day falls on a Sunday and Anzac Day falls on the same day as Easter Monday; April 25.
Philip Holland is happy to give his staff Valentine's Day off this year as Monday to Friday workers miss out on two statutory holidays.
Financial Independence managing director Philip Holland says he felt his 24 staff should have a day off to compensate for these missed public holidays and he has picked February 14, Valentine's Day.
'Our staff work extremely hard and this is a small way of us saying thanks,” says Philip.
Whilst the day is a one-off, Philip is quite open to ‘Mondayising' other public holidays at Financial Independence when public holidays fall on a weekend.
The company has grown from five to 24 staff in only a few years.
'This growth has placed plenty of pressure on staff which highlights for us the importance of having great people onboard,” says Philip.
'We've been blessed with having loyal, supportive, dedicated and trustworthy staff.
'This day off is a small way for the owners and management of Financial Independence to say thanks.”
Other Tauranga employers aren't rushing to ‘Mondayise' the two weekend public holidays this year.
One of the larger Tauranga employers, the Tauranga City Council with about 400 staff, is not ‘Mondayising', says acting chief executive Christine Jones.
Trustpower is also not ‘Mondayising', says community relations manager Graeme Purches.
'We are just doing it the way the law says we have got to do it,” says Graeme.
The Port of Tauranga is not ‘Mondayising' the holidays, says corporate services manager Sara Lunam.
'We observe public holidays and all the rules around those public holidays for example Waitangi Day and Anzac Day if they fall on weekends,” says Sara.
'They are not observed on any other day, whereas Christmas Day and Boxing Day are, and we observe those holidays.
'It does cost money to pay people to do nothing. They are holidays when they fall due.
'We don't actually support the ‘Mondayising', or the introducing of any more public holidays in that way.
'You are just adding costs to everything. New Zealand's got to be competitive.”
8 comments
Mondayitislike a disease
Posted on 04-02-2011 12:28 | By Grant Nordick
We are darn lucky to have the amount of time off from work as it is: 4 weeks paid leave plus an average of just over 10 public holidays and at least 5 personal (sick) days/year. Everyone is complaining about the rising cost of everything. The added costs to businesses of Mondayising two more holidays is, ultimately, going to be paid for by the very employees who think they are going to benefit from a paid day off - Think Again!
Posted on 04-02-2011 13:39 | By Aunty Di
I agree with karen-grant. There are 260 working days in the year, by the time you have 20 working days holiday, 11 public holidays, and up to 5 sick days that is 15% of the working year!! Poor small to medium sized employers who can't shut up shop for those days!
totally sucks
Posted on 04-02-2011 14:48 | By esquire
missing out on public holidays totally sucks. maybe these savings for the NZ economy will shuffle it through another year of 0.1% growth
Comment by Gail McKenzie
Posted on 04-02-2011 15:34 | By The author of this comment has been removed.
Message: Read the feature re the local firm giving its staff a day off in lieu of Waitangi Day. I di this for all my staff last year. This year I am giving them Tuesday 26th April off as Anzac Day falls on Easter Monday. I own Job Finders in Elizabeth Street and have 25 staff between here and Hamilton.
Fridayising
Posted on 04-02-2011 16:28 | By Ash
Think of the people who work Tuesday to Saturday who miss out on all the Monday public holidays -they should be given the previous Friday just to make it fair :)
Posted on 04-02-2011 16:28 | By Aunty Di
That is very generous of you Gail - do you have the day off too? Or do you have to stay at work to cover the phones etc. We have been in business for 25 years, and we have always, as a family, worked the public holidays so that our staff could have the time off with their families. I still agree with Karen - Grant though.
mondayising
Posted on 05-02-2011 10:19 | By Glen Clova
The days should stay the way the are.How many of the people wanting to mondayise do attend the remembrance celebrations,not many they only want a day off. As for Phill Holland giving his staff time off good on him,but most small employers are struggling just to survive and not having to pay 2 stat holidays this year will help them keep their staff employed.Just remember nothing is free someone has to pay for it.
To Newsroom
Posted on 05-02-2011 12:06 | By KiwiSteve
Very responsible of you! Are there no un-employed people to find jobs for? I would hazzard a guess you get Government funding!
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