Brits failing to bank a holiday

Over 17 million people in England, Wales and Northern Ireland will find themselves working this bank holiday even though they technically have the day off, according to first direct, the bank that never holidays. Two fifths (43%) of all us will end up doing work-related tasks over the long weekend, despite the fact that it is not an official working day.

These tasks are likely to include checking or sending work emails (which 43% of “stealth workers” admitted to), writing proposals or papers (37%), taking reading home (34%) and making work calls (11%). One-in-ten bank holiday grafters (11%) will actually meet with colleagues, clients or customers rather than enjoy time off.

Combined with another 7.6 million (or 19% of adults) who do paid work in public services, pubs, shops and call centres, first direct found that more people will work this bank holiday than take it easy as over 24 million people won’t leave their job behind and just 15 million will take the day off.

Jane Hanson head of human resources for 24 hour bank first direct said, “It’s clear that for the country’s working population, having the bank holiday off is not a given. People are now either in a job where they officially work on a bank holiday, feel the need to take the odd bit of work home or keep half an eye on the inbox.

“The shift toward bank holiday working is further evidence that traditional working hours no longer apply to people today. As the pioneers of 24 hour banking in the UK we anticipated this change when we launched in 1989. We believe that people with different working patterns need a different kind of bank, providing exceptional service whenever it is needed.”

The research comes as first direct has found that conventional working hours are fast-becoming a thing of the past. The bank has uncovered the growing significance of what it has termed the five-to-nine economy.

Jane Hanson continues, “We have already found that ‘office hours’ are a thing of the past for office workers with managers and professionals now working early mornings and late into the night. With this in mind, it makes sense that so many people are checking their e-mails, writing a few documents, or even attending the odd meeting, when they’re officially on holiday.”

The research also shows that the demise of the long weekend has spread throughout the United Kingdom and applies to most public holidays, which are now being overlooked. Those in the North West are the most likely to enjoy a work-free bank holiday with less than half (45%) working.

However the South East, South West and East of England all have over 60% of their populations working bank holidays and a massive 72% of Londoners do the same.

Scotland – which has different holidays from the rest of the UK – is the bastion of bank holiday working, with a staggering 95% making time for work during the day.

While Scotland’s bank holiday work force is split fairly evenly between those that are paid to work the day and “stealth workers”, London’s, with its large professional population, is driven by workers who, in theory, have the day off.