Medieval peasants enjoyed surprisingly extensive sick, holiday and bereavement leave
In medieval England, peasants on certain estates had access to sick leave, annual leave, and bereavement leave rights that could rival those of many modern UK workers. This sheds new light on historical labour conditions and challenges assumptions about medieval social protections.
Source The Conversation
The research reveals that peasants on the Ramsey Abbey estate in Huntingdonshire were entitled to up to a year and one day off work if ill. Widows were allowed leave upon their husband's death, and workers benefited from multiple religious feast days annually. However, these benefits were not equally distributed among all peasants, reflecting social inequalities of the period.
These findings question current narratives about medieval social security and may prompt a reassessment of labour rights history.
