BUSINESSES have warned employees that due to tomorrow’s bank holiday today is the equivalent of Friday and they should work accordingly.

Guidelines have been issued by the government and passed down by management to ensure that nobody does a full Thursday’s work before the premature end of the week.

Office manager Martin Bishop said: “The old hands laugh it off, saying ‘As if anyone was going to do anything today’, but we’ve got younger ones in the building and it’s new to them.

“We only have a Friday bank holiday once a year, and it’d break my heart to see people rushing around and getting stuff done like this wasn’t the last day of the week.

“I’ve had to grab a couple of the juniors and tell them to take it easy. ‘Just imagine it’s Friday,’ I said. ‘Would you really be doing all Leanne’s photocopying then?’”

Payroll executive Helen Archer said: “It’s weird. It’s technically a half-day like on Fridays, but I keep sitting at my desk with the urge to work even though I know it’d be wrong to.

“I’ve bought a 12-pack of Creme Eggs to remind me, and every time I accidentally glance at my screen I make myself have one. It’s working so far, although I do feel extremely sick.”