Brexit blunder: Government error teases UK with 14 weeks vacation
An embarrassing error in the UK government’s White Paper says Britons would enjoy 14 weeks’ paid vacation a year in the post-Brexit era, giving a fatigued public something to cheer about as Theresa May’s government ventures the unknown path of EU-divorce.
Although raising questions about the UK government’s slapdash approach to its Brexit plans, the hike was just a result of a graph error and not a surprise bonus of leaving the EU.
Looking forward to my 14 weeks of paid holiday, as set out in the government's #brexit white paper... pic.twitter.com/v2nPNrNgsV
— Alex Pollitt (@pollittalex) February 2, 2017
Either this is very badly researched or I'm warming to Brexit https://t.co/EiMuHtqtks
— Ian Dunt (@IanDunt) February 2, 2017
@IanDunt I dunno about anyone else, but I've just booked a 14 week holiday in the Maldives. And I've sent the bill straight to Angela Merkel
— BRYN_BORANGA (@BRYN_BORANGA) February 2, 2017
Made by mistake rather than by design, the huge extension of vacation entitlement is a massive bump. The UK has 5.6 weeks of paid annual leave a year, while EU’s minimum is four weeks.
The graph featured in the 77 page White Paper showed minimum vacation and maternity leave entitlements in the EU and the UK.
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The graph, however, shows the UK’s annual vacation entitlements as 14 weeks.
Surely something wrong with EU v UK holiday graph at p32 of Brexit White Paper. 14 weeks hol in UK? https://t.co/cNA6YK8g62pic.twitter.com/XVKGpyLn4Y
— Laurie Anstis (@ljanstis) February 2, 2017
Looking forward to my 14 weeks of paid holiday, as set out in the government's #brexit white paper... pic.twitter.com/v2nPNrNgsV
— Alex Pollitt (@pollittalex) February 2, 2017
The paper was criticized for other mistakes such as missing full stops and spelling errors, although the misleading vacation graph was sure to sting the most.
