I’m doing some research at the moment and would appreciate it if you could help me out here.
You can drop me a mail at jeanette@jeanettewang.com if you don’t feel comfortable leaving your name, age and occupation for all to see!
Here are my questions:
1. According to my research, Singapore, with 11 public holidays, is below the global average for days off. In your opinion, should Singapore have more public holidays? Why or why not?
2. What days, if any, do you hope to see become public holidays? What is your ideal number of public holidays a year?
3. Do you think school holidays should be arranged to fall on Mondays or Fridays, so that families can plan to take long weekends away together? For example, Teachers’ Day fell on a Tuesday this year, and Children’s Day on Thursday. It may therefore be inconvenient and not “economical” for parents to take leave in the middle of the week.
4. Finally, need your name, age and occupation.
Thanks much in advance! Please note that by replying to this you agree to be quoted in the paper.
3 Comments
1. Yes, we should have more days off. We’re working too hard. Work is never ending after all.
2. Family day? I think it would be ideal if those existing festive public holidays could be doubled. For instance, for CNY we have 2 days off, that could be increased to 4 days and for Christmas, the existing 1 day off should be doubled to 2. New Year’s off should be increased as well!
Additionally, i think it would be good if we actually get our days off. LIke for instance deepavali that’s just gone by, because it falls on a Saturday, which is a non-working day for most, we do not get the day off. We got shortchanged of one day off.
3. At this point, i’m not too bothered by this.
4. Age 24, Student.
1 & 2) Yes, 11 days PH is not much. It will be good to have half days on the eves of major holidays, eg. Hari Raya, Deepavali. The govt is encouraging us to have worklife balance, this will be a good start.
3)I think parents make such comments purely for their own convenient. (I am a parent too) It is always nice to have the long weekend, isn’t it? Family Day doesn’t have to be family going away. It can also be family getting together, at home, go to the park, have a meal together. Taking leave in the middle of the week due to such PH should not be viewed as “not economical” taking leave. Instead, it is also a time for us to spend time with the kids. It will loss the meaning of Teacher’s Day, or Children’s day, if it doesn’t fall on the actual day.
4) I am a working mother. Mid-30s, Financial Industry
1. Well, i love to dictate my own PHs, to decide my own off days as well as “slogging” money making days. Anyway, being in a fast moving, constantly busy and “expensive” society, its pretty tough to slow down and “not work”. Maybe not additional PH, however an implementation by more corporations to offer flexi working hours so that all married individuals can have balanced work lives.
2. What days, if any, do you hope to see become public holidays? Hmm… i do like the no. 6 (luck), saturdays, however already a weekend. But hey, could be good, cuz school going kids could have an additional off days on Mons, in lieu of a PH on sats. :) At least i know my babygirl will be most happy sleeping in. And no more Monday blues…
What is your ideal number of public holidays a year? No preference.
3. Do you think school holidays should be arranged to fall on Mondays or Fridays, so that families can plan to take long weekends away together? For example, Teachers’ Day fell on a Tuesday this year, and Children’s Day on Thursday. It may therefore be inconvenient and not “economical” for parents to take leave in the middle of the week.
This would definitely be ideal however is it possible as they go by the dates and yearly cycles will make these PHs fall on different days each respective years.
4. Finally, need your name, age and occupation.
Geneve, 31 yrs, Sales