London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Tuesday, Sep 08, 2026

Britain's 'best boss' gives workers the Monday off after historic England final

Britain's 'best boss' gives workers the Monday off after historic England final

Chris Donnelly, 30, has told his 65 members of staff at Verb Brands not to go to work after the historic match against Italy, regardless of the result. He was declared Britain's Best Boss in April

Britain's 'best boss' has given his staff Monday off after the government refused to promise a last-minute Bank Holiday if England win Euro 2020.

Chris Donnelly, 30, told his 65 workers not to go to work after the historic match against Italy - regardless of the result.

The chief executive of digital marketing firm Verb Brands described the match as a "once in a lifetime opportunity" for England and he wants his employees to enjoy it.

He said: "This could be a once in a lifetime opportunity when it comes to England and I want everyone to enjoy it. Besides, this is about staff welfare.

Chris announced his decision on LinkedIn


"With all the stress of the game there will be enough to worry without the thought of work the next day too."

Chris was declared Britain's Best Boss in April when he gave everyone a day off on full pay to go to the pub as bars and shops reopened.

His England LinkedIn post generated more than 1,000 likes as he called for the government to consider an extra Bank Holiday if England win the historic match.

The England team could bring football home this weekend


Chris's post read: "I am giving everyone Monday off work.

"History is being made and it's only right that everyone gets to witness it - without having to think about work the next day.

"This is about more than just football.

"It's about spending time with our favourite people, feeling a real sense of national pride and having something genuinely brilliant to celebrate.

The England team celebrating their victory against Denmark on Tuesday


"Whether you like football or not, another day to spend with friends or family after the year we have just had is essential.

"I think other companies should follow suit and wouldn't it be amazing if the government did too!

"I hope the team enjoy their time off !!"

Boris Johnson has been tight-lipped about committing to an official public holiday in England win.

Yesterday, the Prime Minister said: “I think that would be tempting fate - let’s see what happens.”

England will face Italy on Sunday


Today, Labour Leader Keir Starmer has backed demands for a bank holiday if the Three Lions triumph over Italy.

Speaking to the Mirror, he said: "The whole country is incredibly proud of what Gareth Southgate and our England heroes have achieved already. History has been made.

"If we win on Sunday, the country should get the chance to celebrate it properly with an extra bank holiday, granted in the name of the England team.

"I’ve got a strong feeling it’s coming home."

TUC general secretary Frances O’Grady added: “If England bring it home on Sunday, government should allow the country to celebrate by announcing a special bank holiday.

“But it can’t just be a one off. UK workers get fewer bank holidays than most of our European counterparts. The TUC has long called for more public holidays. So come on England!”

The Mirror understands the government is looking at the idea of a bank holiday, or day of national celebration, if England win.

Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
University of Bristol Opens £500 Million Innovation Campus
Families Give Evidence to Independent Review of Sussex Maternity Failures
Sweden Confirms Deportation of 458 British Citizens Over Post-Brexit Residency Rules
UK Launches £3 Million Challenge for Long-Duration Energy Storage
Reform UK Proposes £100 Billion in Spending Cuts and Brownfield Deregulation
Andy Burnham Warns Macron That EU Procurement Rules Could Hurt British Steel
Andy Burnham Faces Major Decision on Future North Sea Oil and Gas Drilling
SEND Support in England Projected to Reach One in 10 Pupils
England’s Housing Courts Struggle With Surge in No-Fault Eviction Cases
Violent Clashes Erupt in Portsmouth During Protest Against Asylum Processing
Three-Quarters of NHS Emergency Staff Report Regular Violence or Aggression
UK Considers Converting Female Prison Space for Male Inmates as Overcrowding Worsens
UK House Prices Record First Annual Decline in Nearly Three Years
UK Government Reassesses Policy Toward Israel Amid Calls for Diplomatic Shift
Reform UK Faces Police Scrutiny Over Alleged Foreign Donations Scheme
University of Bristol Opens £500 Million Temple Quarter Enterprise Campus
Online Bookmakers Accused of Privacy Breaches Through Cookie Consent Practices
Health Campaigners Urge UK Government to Abandon U.S. Pharmaceutical Agreement
Three-Quarters of UK A&E Staff Report Regular Violence or Aggression
Far-Right Demonstrations Target Portsmouth as Small-Boat Crossings Fuel Tensions
UK Records Hottest Summer on Record After Severe Heatwaves
UK Travellers Face Renewed EU Border Delays as Temporary Flexibility Ends
UK Rejects Calls to Pause AI Data Centre Expansion Despite Energy Concerns
UK Defence Figures Push for 3% Spending Target Amid Falklands Concerns
England Faces Rising Financial Pressure as Special Educational Needs Plans Surge
Metropolitan Police Consider Reform UK Probe Over Overseas Donations
Keir Starmer to Leave Parliament, Triggering By-Election
UK Treasury Weighs Windfall Taxes on Banks and Oil Companies Amid Bond Market Turmoil
Jaguar Land Rover to Cut Thousands of Jobs as UK Government Rules Out Bailout
OpenAI Unveils GPT-6 and Says: "We May Already Have Reached AGI"
Congressman Accused Andrew of Sex Crimes in the United States
Donald Trump: "I'm Glad Harry and Meghan Left the United States"
Spicy Food Is Linked to Lower Death Risk — but It Is Not a Miracle Cure
AfD Enters Saxony-Anhalt Election at 41% in Historic Test for German Politics
Gen Z Turns to Investing as America's First-Home Dream Moves Further Out of Reach
Thousands Join London March Calling for Tighter Abortion Restrictions
Institute of Directors Says Tax and Regulatory Uncertainty Still Weighs on UK Investment
Bank of England Faces Rate Dilemma as Weak Growth and Persistent Inflation Raise Stagflation Risks
Masked Anti-Immigration Protesters Block Roads to Port of Dover
Prime Minister Andy Burnham Sets Out Devolution and Re-Industrialisation Agenda
British Chambers of Commerce Forecasts UK Growth of Just 1% Through 2027
UK Government Advances Bill to Tighten Rules on Overseas Political Donations
Nigel Farage Faces Scrutiny Over Alleged Reform UK Donation-Law Evasion
Thousands Join Anti-Abortion March Through Central London
UK Beekeepers Call for Nationwide Tracking as Asian Hornet Sightings Increase
England Sees Sharp Rise in Property Subsidence Claims After Record Summer Heat
House of Lords Advances Financial Services Reform Bill
House of Lords Begins Detailed Scrutiny of Railways Bill and Great British Railways Plan
UK Treasury Cuts Green Book Discount Rate to Support More Regional Infrastructure Projects
Reform UK Suspends Two Senior Aides After Undercover Report on Foreign Donation Rules
×