Ok, don’t get me wrong, I love my job, but seriously, April’s going to be a kickass month, check this out..
Friday 10.04 – Good Friday (holiday)
Monday 13.04 – Family Day (holiday)
Wednesday 22.04 – Elections Day (holiday)
Monday 27.04 – Freedom Day (holiday)
Friday 01.05 – Worker’s Day
So, what this means is that we have 3 x 4 day work weeks and 1 x 3 day work week in April, how totally awesome is that?
I’m quite in touch with a number of people who work in industry, especially the progressive IT industry and I have to say that the general vibe is that people are feeling quite tired this year, already. I think April is going to be tough, fitting full weeks into 4 day weeks isn’t easy and longer hours are often experienced, but the days off certainly make a difference and I hope that everyone manages to get a couple days of relaxation in before mid-year starts to arrive, as it’s going to get insane around that time!
What have you got planned for the days off my friends?
And I miss most of them because I’m in the UK in April. Bah humbug.
I tell you, I worked for a company here in Cape Town, which was a UK company and we didn’t get any of the South African holidays – that was torture!
I plan to do as little as possible for the first few holidays, then will start preparing for my birthday… which is the last one on 1st May. :-)
Can’t wait for this first holiday, in major need of some downtime, would love to get away or something!
Hmm, or u can work for a company that forces u to work on the public holidays including election day… And told that if we worked harder we would have a right to vote. And that if we contest it we will be fired. Gotta love it
@Rox – Yup, I’m doing as little as possible, so far my schedule is open and if it can stay like that, wooohooo!
@K – You need to address that with the powers above, aka CCMA, because that’s an easy case to win! Anonymously, obviously. Otherwise, pop me an email with the companies name and exactly what they’ve said and I’ll see what I can do, naturally not mentioning the source, because it’ll arrive anonymously :)
Hey Chris!
Typical post from an employee! HaHa
Of course, business owners HATE April – because no one is in a work mood and unfortunately we have to pay full salaries.
I don’t understand why the government didn’t just put the elections on 27 April? Sort of poetic, voting on that day.
With the current economic crisis, every work hour counts … Believe me – I’m stressing big time!
I have a simple theory.
If you cannot complete your work between 8am and 6pm, working 5 days a week, you’re doing something wrong (or doing something, which could be done more optimally), it’s as simple as that :)
I’m stoked!!!
Well there are 18 work days in April and an added bonus if you are Jewish as there are all the Jewish holidays too. Unfortunately being a business owner also has its cons and I will not be taking advantage of any of the public holidays or Jewish holidays as I have to man the fort…. Maybe next year!
I guess so ya, can’t just leave the shop alone :/
Well, try get one day off to relax and enjoy :)
I must admit, I am quite concerned at the moment, as an employee I relish any day that doesn’t require my getting up at the crack of dawn, but as a business owner I am not sure how I am going to make ends meet this month (April) – I think it ridiculous that the month’s holidays were so poorly thought out.The working weeks that remain in between the holidays are likely going to be less than productive because of the air of ‘holiday’ and festivity everyone is experiencing.
@Daz – I’m curious, I’ve heard a lot of business owners moaning about this and I totally understand that. However, surely if your business is running correctly, you can work in and between these holidays? Make sure that meetings with clients are on working days and make sure that your ops manager assigns tasks correctly and efficiently on working days – that way, your staff will work hard, but will enjoy the days off?
How big is your company and what do you do? I guess that determines a lot and might void my opinion above..
I am finding that from suppliers to employees there is a relaxed mood because of the interrupted month, for eg. if a Tuesday is off, the Monday becomes the 3rd day of a 4 day weekend :( I guess it does depend on what you do and how big one’s operation is.
Ah Daz, there you have a fantastic point and I can’t argue that, as I’ve experienced the same thing – so many people are in this relaxed mode!
I didn’t mean to say that you were doing something wrong, was just tring to get down to the basis of it in general as I find this a really interesting conversation :)
I hope you are managing and that you do turn profit at the end of the month!
…I certainly hope so too! I somehow doubt it, what with the economic pressures we’re all experiencing, and simply the cost of living…it seems every working/productive hour becomes precious. Thanks for your sentiment, let’s hope and wait and see – like everyone else :)
Holding thumbs for you Daz, times are certainly getting harder, there’s no doubt about that!