As we feel envious of people in England making plans for today’s Bank Holiday break, one small comfort we can count on is that our shops and services won’t be disrupted.
Right?
Wrong.
Even though most of us in Scotland did not have the pleasure of a long lie today because our Bank Holidays are different, we still have the inconvenience of many banks and post offices shutting shop.
With a name like Royal Bank Of Scotland you might have put money on its doors remaining open for business today, but under the Financial Services Authority it works on the English holiday system. It was not the only bank that shut its doors.
In fact, many English-run companies in Scotland do not adhere to the traditional Scottish Bank Holiday calendar.
So it comes as no surprise that some people are becoming disgruntled at the confusing holiday system because it affects more than just the opening times of our banks.
Families and friends whose holidays depend on whichever system their workplace uses find it difficult when making plans together.
Moreover, it is baffling to workers trying to decipher what holiday pay they are entitled to.
It is not only geographical differences that can cause confusion.
Councils caused outrage last year when some would not recognise Boxing Day as an official public holiday because it fell on a Saturday.
This meant the usual practice of free parking in streets was not considered legitimate and many motorists received parking tickets and heavy fines.
Wondering what the people on the streets made of these increasingly bewildering inconsistencies, we asked: should all Bank holidays in the UK be the same?
Confusion as banks and businesses operate different days off
AILEEN PATON, 39, Giffnock, bank clerk: “I’m off for the bank holiday and I’m delighted but I do think it should be the same for everyone.”
ROSS WILSON, 31, Hyndland, customer services: “It should all be brought into line. It’s frustrating when you see friends off and you’re not.”
PAUL DIXON, 18, Springburn, barman: “To be honest, I don’t really care.”
STEPHANIE HUTCHISON, 19, Milton, shop assistant: “I work every Monday regardless and I get time and a half, so I don’t mind.”
EMMA SMITH, 19, Milton, shop assistant: “In retail you don’t get it anyway, but I suppose it should be uniform to save inconvenience.”
MARY GRAHAM, 21, Sighthill, medical assistant: “It doesn’t faze me, I’ll still get time and a half.”
MORVEN THOMSON, 47, Morningside, administrative assistant: “I work for a college so we lose a lot of Mondays to bank holidays. I think it’s nice to have our unique holidays.”
ANDREW McQUADE, 21, Shettleston, sales executive: “It should be a British bank holiday and it should be the same for everyone as we are all part of the UK.”
