A slight majority of business leaders will give employees time off to mark Scotland’s return to the World Cup, with many believing it will have a positive affect on their company.
Just over half (55%) of those polled in a survey will recognise the Scottish government’s Bank Holiday on 15 June.
A fifth (20%) oppose the idea and nearly a quarter (23%) are ambivalent towards it, according to the results of a survey due to be published tomorrow.
Companies are willing to shut their doors for the day even though thousands of local authority workers are being told they must work as usual.
Councillors in both Edinburgh and the Highlands voted to reject the holiday this week, with the capital’s local authority estimating it would cost the city £350,000. They are among 12 of Scotland’s 32 councils to snub John Swinney’s plan for a national celebration after Scotland qualified for the first time since 1998. Five councils have granted the holiday.
Nearly a third of businesses (31%) anticipate the bank holiday having a positive effect on their business, while one-in-five (19%) foresee a negative impact. Around half (46%) expect no change.
Those in favour claim it will boost national morale (49%), celebrate Scottish achievement (47%), add to community cohesion (43%) and support the hospitality and tourism sector (38%).
Those opposed highlight concerns about government priorities (63%), economic cost (52%) and questions about whether a bank holiday is an appropriate response (48%).
The findings come from the twelfth edition of the Understanding Business survey, designed and conducted by Diffley Partnership and Charlotte Street Partners. More than 500 senior decision-makers at Scottish firms were asked a range of questions about the prospects for their own organisation, the wider economy, and topical issues in business and politics. The full report will be published on Monday.
David Gaffney, senior partner at Charlotte Street Partners, said: “There are multiple more weighty issues to consider ahead of the Holyrood election, but the June bank holiday has become one of those questions that divides opinion across the country.
“My view is that it’s a pre-election gimmick of a giveaway. But it turns out that most business leaders take a less cynical – or, perhaps, a more pragmatic – perspective.
“If it’s true that politics is principally a vibes game these days, the first minister seems to have judged the national mood well on this score, at least where businesses are concerned.”
source