Mondayising Waitangi and Anzac Days
In my blog at Stuff I say:
But how significant would this law change be, in terms of labour costs? On average it will result in two extra days of paid holidays every seven years. Over seven years there are around 1600 paid workdays, so the increase in labour cost is 2/1600 or 0.12 per cent.
This is a pretty modest increase in labour costs. It is about 1/16th the cost of having a 2 per cent employer contribution to KiwiSaver.
I’m an employer myself, but I’m in favour of this bill. As an employer I budget for 11 public holidays a year anyway when working out my staff costs, and I suspect most employers do the same. This law change would give certainty to both employers and employees, and the impact on labour costs is very modest.
You can comment over at Stuff, as well as here. I also cover in what future years the bill would actually impact.
February 8th, 2012 at 12:12 pm
1. They ‘Monday-ize’ them in Australia.
2. The holidays used to be Monday-ized once upon a time in NZ.
3. The country can’t afford to Monday-ize these holidays two years out of…what.. every seven years? Come on…
February 8th, 2012 at 12:18 pm
> This is a pretty modest increase in labour costs
More like a very small increase in costs. Bear in mind that labour costs are a fraction of a firm’s total costs. And of course you’ve ignored the benefits…
February 8th, 2012 at 12:23 pm
ross, modest is a synonym of small http://thesaurus.com/browse/small
As usual you’re a dick.
February 8th, 2012 at 12:25 pm
Labour obviously for, so are Greens. Mana presumably would be for too. Maori Party?
National so far reluctant to support a Labour initiative, Brownlie was against on NatRad this morning, Key has been non-committal.
Winston Peters opposed on NatRad but misunderstands how it would work.
Act probably against?
@PeterDunneMP:
@LIVENewsDesk This could be an idea whose time has come.
Should parties be whipped on this? It’s hardly political, surely it should be a MPs choice on this.
If not National will probably come round to supporting it, leaving NZ First and maybe Act against.
February 8th, 2012 at 12:44 pm
Right now,
Actually modest means “not extreme or excessive; moderate” which of course is quite different from very small.
http://www.thefreedictionary.com/modest
February 8th, 2012 at 12:47 pm
The issue is for those business that the 7 days a week. They pay for the public holiday for a full complement of staff on the (say) sunday, then again on the monday.
This is already an issue for Christmas/boxing day/NY/2nd which can only be overcome by making those that work the acutal public holiday to also work on the additional day.
February 8th, 2012 at 12:49 pm
Ross – do you iron your underpants and measure the crease?
February 8th, 2012 at 12:51 pm
FWIW
ANZAC day — most definitely. Waitangi Day — not until someone persuades me that it has any relevance other than an excuse to bitch and moan.
February 8th, 2012 at 12:54 pm
ross’ latest: “Bear in mind that labour costs are a fraction of a firm’s total costs. ”
Whaaaat? It depends totally on the business you’re in – if you import a widget / on-sell it without changing it, then that statement may apply. If you are a second hand car dealer, then the statement may also apply.
But if you manufacture a widget here then your statement is totally wrong as labour may well be the single biggest cost line. Even greater than the cost of ingredients / component parts.
In fact, the same would apply for almost all service based businesses.
ross – if you ever wonder why you’re ridiculed so often on KB, then just read your comments again.
Or get someone explain to you how a business works.
February 8th, 2012 at 1:00 pm
Right. Because the big problem with New Zealand is that we are working too hard. More holidays is solving exactly what problem? Don’t forget Labour legislated for an extra week’s worth of paid holidays. Perhaps reverting to a statutory 3 weeks (or, shock horror, letting workers and employers sort out their own arrangements) might be a fair trade off?
February 8th, 2012 at 1:04 pm
ross…WTF?
Your whole argument rests on DPF’s description of an increase of 0.12 per cent as “pretty modest” versus your preferred wording “very small”.
You’re a “pretty modest” dick.
Have you actually read the column by the way? DPF is arguing in favour of the idea, I suspect you’ve jumped to the wrong conclusion before getting all the facts.
February 8th, 2012 at 1:06 pm
If an employee feels strongly that the need a Monday to fully celebrate these holidays then what is stopping them at the moment from taking that day off with out pay?
What make the employer pay for the day off?
February 8th, 2012 at 1:09 pm
ross – you don’t comment at stuff under the name “fletch” by any chance?
Another “I didn’t read the column but I’ll make a comment based on my inherent prejudice about anything DPF writes” type of modest dick.
February 8th, 2012 at 1:15 pm
and that will be on top of the just granted 0.50 cent increase in the minimum wage.
The socialist pricks need booting out of office.
More jobs gone, more imports and they wonder why NZ is going down the fucking tubes.
and before you rant about the modest increase its not just for the minimum because it trickles upwards to every other worker.
Up go the prices again. Jobs go, Inflation comes back, TAXES PAID INCREASE.
That’s why they do it.
February 8th, 2012 at 1:16 pm
Ross is not at all modest. His ego has crowded his cranium to the extent that there is no room for common sense or objectivity
February 8th, 2012 at 1:23 pm
“Have you actually read the column by the way?”
Yes I have…which is why it’s obvious that the increase is very small. In other words, it’s not moderate.
February 8th, 2012 at 1:27 pm
“More holidays is solving exactly what problem?”
There’s no problem, giving tax cuts to the wealthy solved all our problems.
February 8th, 2012 at 1:30 pm
Nobody said it was moderate except in your own mind ross.
February 8th, 2012 at 1:39 pm
Who has got the popcorn?
February 8th, 2012 at 1:44 pm
The popcorn’s nice and ready and its waiting warm and tasty.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IWQzMYxt7TM
February 8th, 2012 at 1:48 pm
ross – maybe you haven’t been in New Zealand long, or maybe you grew up in a totally different environment here.
“Pretty modest” in common Kiwi vernacular can mean four fifths of f all. A different way of saying ‘bugger all’ or ‘very small’.
February 8th, 2012 at 1:54 pm
even has a cameo of john boy
February 8th, 2012 at 1:59 pm
OK I have to ask Griff. Is john boy the rabbit, the poodle, the lady bug, one of the pigs, the wolf…?
February 8th, 2012 at 1:59 pm
I note that nobody to this point has suggested mondayising these holidays on whatever day they fall. Far more practical than a tuesday, wednesday or thursday off and back to work the next day before a looming weekend that could have been a 3 dayer.
February 8th, 2012 at 3:04 pm
Waitangi day shouldnt be a holiday at all – its just a day for whingers and complainiers – oh and for De Bres to make more silly comments. We should treat it like most religious feasts – mark it on the calendar then forget it.
Anzac day – its the date thats important – so leave it alone. Much like Nov 11 in the UK – its the date that matters.
February 8th, 2012 at 5:35 pm
a. It’s a small amount apparently. So then if I let DPF know the amount he will just send over the money to me every year. Yes ?
b. I do reward my employees well and subsequently they do get 5 weeks actual holiday a year. Holidays are good.
c.. Mondayising converts what is an important day of remembering – Anzac day – into just another long weekend. It’s not Anzac.
d. Waitangi day. Why have it. It’s meaning has been hijacked by the troughers.