BACK IN OCTOBER, Simon Harris told us, “I like elections on a Friday. Friday is a good day to have an election.” Good for who, Simon? For you? For the candidates? For the turnout statistics? Because I’ll tell you who it’s not good for.
The working parents of the country whose children’s national school will be closed and used as a polling station; yet again. Let’s not forget this is the third time this year we will be going to the polls on a weekday. But Simon says it’s grand.
Sure, working parents can just make alternative arrangements, right? The truth is that in many households around the country, both parents are working outside of the home. Another extra day off school for their young children is another day where at least one parent will have to take it off work. And before the detractors come pilling in suggesting parents don’t want to look after their own children, don’t embarrass yourself.
Ask any parent about getting the luxury of an extra day off to spend with their young children and they’ll say it’s a welcome gift. A day off to have some fun and do nice things with them while they are still young is a privilege. Try making family life work on one salary and come back to me.
Only that’s not what Friday 29 November will be, will it? For most working parents it will likely be another day of utter struggle, calling in every favour in the book to get their children minded for chunks of the day, while they try and juggle working from home, on an.
