The National Trust has awarded all staff an extra day off on 29 February as part of a campaign to encourage staff to go green.
Staff are being given the opportunity of time to improve their environmental footprint – starting at home. The National Trust says that small steps by thousands of individuals are of infinitely more value than millions of words without action. They are encouraging staff to consider:
- Draught proofing houses
- Sorting out the loft insulation
- Digging out and fixing up the old bike in the shed
- Switching to ‘green energy’
- Spending time planting vegetables
Reported by The Times newspaper, Dame Fiona Reynolds, director-general of the National Trust, said: “Climate change is one of the biggest challenges we are facing today. At the National Trust, we are looking at the impact of all our activities and how we can reduce this impact. Now we want our staff to do the same. If everybody gets involved, this means over 54,000 people could reduce their impact on the environment.”
According to the paper, staff will be asked to file a brief report of what they have achieved, but there will be no disciplinary action against those discovered to have spent the day in front of the television or in the pub.
Brendan Barber, general secretary of the Trades Union Congress, told The Times: “Giving employees an extra day off work while encouraging them to think about what they can do to go greener sounds like a great idea. More employers should be thinking about how to give their staff a better work-life balance. It is time for the government to take a leaf out of the National Trust book and create a new community day Bank Holiday.”
