We don’t get much snow in Australia, in fact many Australians have never seen snow in real life. Yet we do have snowfields. Snow is something you go to, as in “What are you doing this weekend?” “I’m going to the snow.” For those who work in the snowfields there is a thing called a “Snow Day”. This happens when you have a night with lots and lots of snow so the next morning there’s perfect skiing conditions. When this happens cafe’s, restaurants and shops will close for a Snow Day – a day where employees can enjoy the wonders that nature has provided.

I think this is a marvelous idea. Employees tend to work harder and longer simply because they know that come the perfect conditions, they’ll be able to spend a day skiing and not be stuck inside serving the lucky few.

And I’d like to propose that this idea be extended to Ireland. Since sunshine here can be a rare sight, I think that on those days that you wake up to a glorious glowing orb and not a cloud in sight that companies should call a Sun Day and allow their employees to take a day to enjoy it. I’d even be happy if we stuck a max number of Sun Days on per month just in case we get a good year.

What do you think? Would the promise of a Sun Day make you a happier employee? Do you think it’s a good idea?