If you struggled to make it back to work today after the Christmas break, be assured you're not alone!
Online travel agent Expedia asked ICM research to interview a thousand adults around England for their views on returning to work after the Christmas break. Unsurprisingly nearly three quarters of those responding wanted to spend 2nd January in bed recovering as the Scots do, enjoying an extra Bank Holiday. Apparently the lack of rest time after the New Year's festivities is responsible for a commonly-recognised ailment: Post Bank Holiday Depression Syndrome, which results in back-to-work blues.
Nearly half of those surveyed said winter, with its short days and long nights, was the most depressing aspect of the post New Year return to work while one in ten said the idea of 105 days until the next Bank Holiday weekend at Easter was even more depressing.
Cary Cooper, Professor of Organisational Psychology and Health at UMIST, commented: "People who start work on 2 January feeling tired after their New Year festivities could end up suffering from acute Post Bank Holiday Depression Syndrome as a result because they are returning to work before they are fully revitalised. This is also compounded by the habit amongst more and more people not to take time off between Christmas and New Year. This situation cannot be good for business since it may lower productivity levels. Having an extra day off on 2 January could have significant long term benefits."
Liz Harding of Expedia.co.uk, said; "The nation clearly feels Post Bank Holiday Depression Syndrome is an issue that needs to be addressed now. Bank Holidays are important breaks in the working calendar providing an invaluable opportunity to recover. Employees in the UK work, on average, harder than any others in the EU, it's only fair the number of Bank Holidays we receive should at least match theirs. Tony Blair should also be thinking about granting Bank Holidays when the nation really wants, and needs, them."
Expedia has been pushing ahead in the campaign for additional Bank Holidays in the UK for some time, arguing that Britons work longer hours than the rest of Europe but have the fewest number of Bank Holidays (8 each year, half the number of Italy (16) with Germany and Spain having 14 and France 11). The European average is 10.9 Bank Holidays a year. Expedia have even launched a campaign website to gather petitions to be presented to the Prime Minister in the form of www.morebankholidays.co.uk. The campaign has the backing of TUC General Secretary John Monks and Michael Russell, SMP for South of Scotland.
Research has also shown that Many workers in the UK don't even take their full allocation of paid holiday and UK plc benefits to the tune of £2.7billion as a result. So if you need something to look forward to in these dark January days, you could always plan your getaway to sunnier climes now and get that holiday booked in early......!
