Whit Monday

⚠️ Pyn note to HR: Update this message to reflect any available events or ERGs.

Whit Monday (or Lundi de Pentecôte) is observed the day after Pentecost (called Whit Sunday or Whitsun), which occurs 50 days after Easter. Whitsun is a religious holiday celebrated by Christians in France to commemorate the appearance of the Holy Spirit to the Virgin Mary and the apostles. But because Pentecost is not considered a public holiday in France (thanks to it falling on a Sunday), businesses, public services, schools, and shops close on the following Monday—Whit Monday.

Whit Monday in France is typically a low-key affair, with many choosing to attend church services or relax at home with family and friends—while others schedule important events (like baptisms and communions) to coordinate with the holiday. There is also a yearly three-day pilgrimage (which has roots dating back to the 12th century), during which pilgrims walk from Notre-Dame de Paris to Notre-Dame de Chartres—ultimately arriving at their final destination on Whit Monday.

In 2003, a severe heatwave struck France in 2003, leading to more than 15,000 deaths—primarily of the disabled and elderly. In the wake of the disaster, the French government declared Whit Monday a “Solidarity Day,” which required many employees to work on Whit Monday without pay, with employers donating their wages to the state to help fund and improve living conditions for the disabled and elderly. 

While Whit Monday was reinstated as a public holiday in 2008, companies now decide how to contribute to the disabled and elderly fund, which may include a mandatory company day off when employees are required to donate their wages to the fund, a company day off where the company opts to donate the equivalent of their employees’ wages (with no funds coming out of their employees’ pay), or a regular work day—with either the company paying the equivalent of a day’s wages to the fund or deducting a day from employees’ paid time off balances.

How to prepare:

In honor of the holiday, @company.name will be closed on Whit Monday, with regular hours resuming on Tuesday. Please turn your on your out of office messages before leaving for the long weekend.

OR - depending on how the company has decided to contribute to the elderly fund: 

• @comany.name will be open on Whit Monday, you will get paid for your work and we will donate in addition 
• @company.name will donate the equivalent to the disabled / elderly fund 
• @comany.name will be closed and all employees will have one day deducted from their vacation balance to contribute to the disabled and elderly fund