That's according to a new survey by Croner Consulting, one of the UK's leading providers of business advice and support.

Eighty-two per cent of human resources professionals polled think standardising the number of bank holidays across the European Union would increase the performance of their employees.

Britons have eight bank holidays a year, one of the lowest numbers in Europe. And they are not a statutory entitlement, meaning employers may incorporate them into an employee's annual leave. The minimum of 20 days paid annual leave also lags behind most other European countries.

Italy tops the paid leave league with 16 bank holidays, followed by Iceland (15) and Spain (14). German enjoys up to 14 and France, 11.