Letter: Holiday plans

Holiday plans

Sir: I agree with Emrys Turner (letters, 31 December) that we could do with a more even distribution of public holidays, but I would go further. Why not allow employees to choose their own eight days, in addition to their personal holiday allowance?

With careful planning many firms could then operate throughout the year, instead of closing for up to two weeks over Christmas and the New Year and for long weekends at four other times.

If that worked, why not then consider a still greater choice of days off to include those we usually take on Saturdays and Sundays? Many businesses, I know, need all employees in at more or less the same times, but if working practices are becoming more flexible such changes might be accommodated.

ANDREW PITCAIRN-HILL

London SW7