To ask what it's like working Xmas day?

[pancakes22]

I'm completely in awe of NHS staff and other public services that work on Christmas Day and just really curious what it's actually like, especially when you have families?

Do you still get to see your children open presents? Do the kids understand you have to leave to work or do they get upset? Do you resent that part of the job having to work on Christmas and everyone is grumpy at work or is it just an accepted part of the job?

Well done to everyone who does have these valuable jobs and thank you x

I worked nights. I never really saw the kids at Christmas as I was either asleep or at work.

Worked yesterday, swapped my morning shift for the evening shift. Kid were at their dads so went to friends for lunch, and popped off to work! All the patients seem quite happy chatty and I finished earlier than expected as everyone was tired and just wanted to crack on with it! I do t mind working Xmas day if I don’t have the kids.

I’m a paediatric nurse and had to work last Christmas and it was actually really lovely.

The ward is beautifully decorated, we have Christmas CDs playing, we have a real life reindeer that comes in and of course a Santa Claus that brings endless amount of presents for the children. We are also all dressed up in our Christmas jumpers and silly hats and everyone is given a chicken dinner - including the parents of the children. We are open door to visitors and basically every family member of every patient comes in and the atmosphere amongst everyone is amazing - it’s just so Christmassy and lovely.

Last year I got up at 6am and opened some presents with my children and then I left for work at 7am. I finished at 2.30pm, went home and a gorgeous Christmas lunch my husband had made and then we opened the rest of the presents. I had a really lovely day.

The way I see it is that although I have to give up 8 hours of my Christmas Day at least I get to go home to my healthy children at the end of it, which is a far preferable scenario to that of the poorly children on the ward and their parents.

I didn’t work this Christmas but next year I shall be requesting to do it and I won’t mind it one bit. Christmas Day is actually really special and magical on the ward I work on and I enjoy being part of it.

I didn’t like it when dd was young. Doing a Late was kind of ok as I could see her open presents. But would have a rushed early dinner and miss Dr Who. Don’t think I ever worked an early shift.

I don’t mind it now she’s older. Only work on the bank now but worked a late shift on Xmas eve and if they’d needed someone for Xmas day I’d have worked.

Meant to say I’m a midwife so there is something special about working on the labour ward over Xmas.

I used to work on a daily local paper and we had to have people in Christmas day. Hardly essential tho!

Used to have to come in 3pm - 10pm, so got the morning but couldn't gave a drink and always thinking ugh, going to work later.

The actual shift was fine as a lot to do and kept us busy. But it wasn't the best. Didn't do it every year, about once every three yrs.

I’ve often worked christmas, Hogmanay and the like. It is ok. Just another day but perhaps with fairy lights

I’d much rather work to allow someone with children off.

That said I was actually off yesterday - and am glad to be back at work today!

It was a while ago but it was fine with nice collegues in the same situation. Not since dc were older though.

DH used to be a hotel manager

One year DS ( a baby at the time ) went and stayed with him ( he had to live in as there was no night porter working Christmas night )

We ate a late lunch with the staff , then DH worked on reception and bar etc as all the residents were flopping about and being demanding
As tends to be the case , all the residents were there because they hadn’t been invited to anyone’s house

The following year we had a new baby so I stayed home with them , and had Christmas Day the day after Boxing Day , they were so young they didn’t know which day it was anyway

Luckily , he’s changed job now

I love it.
I volunteer to do the afternoon shift which is 12 to 5 on the Christmas and NY holiday shifts.
It means me and the kids have breakfast and a lazy time. I go to work. The kids I work with are usually happy because they've had their presents or maybe some are out visiting their families. We have nice food and then I go home for my Christmas dinner.
I then get paid time and a half and get the hours I work back.

I like working the early shift. You're home in time for fizz, dinner and presents but aren't expected to do much cleaning. Working a long day, late or night is shitty though.

Both my dc have worked in restaurants at Christmas in past years and both say the most annoying thing is when people you are waiting on give you a sad face and say 'what a shame - not with your family at Christmas...' People have no idea that it often isn't a choice!

My DB works in a care home. Shifts are usually 7am-7pm but at Christmas everyone works a half shift, either 7-1 or 1-7, on alternate years, but get paid for a full day.

The theory is that everyone gets Christmas morning with their kids, every other year, and everyone gets to have a family Christmas dinner, every other year.

This year a few employees have flatly refused to do the shift they were allocated, and left it until the very last minute to complain, so there was some enforced swapping and extra hours required.

He says there is quite a nice atmosphere and more visitors than usual, who are very grateful to the staff and often give them little token gifts.

But, obviously, really miserable having to leave home at 6:30 on xmas morning, or set off at 12:30 when everyone else is looking forward to their dinner.

Worst thing about being a nurse IMO! I’ve done a variety. Worst thing was Christmas Day late shift where I had dinner before I went but had indigestion all shift. It was really busy too. When I got home all the kids were in bed and I just ended up having an early night! Night shift isn’t good either because you spend the whole day (sober) waiting for your shift to come. I don’t mind working New Year, I find it an anticlimax anyway. I take a bottle of non-alcoholic wine and everyone brings food. It’s quite nice (apart from that time my patient was delirious and we had to call security when he got violent).

It's amazing how selfless you all are. I would love to retrain and join Nhs one day and it's bizarre how the requirement to work just this one particular day can put me off so it's amazing to hear how you deal with it (that and the sight of vomit of course! Haha!)

I used to work Christmas Day a lot (paeds nurse) when I was single to let the people with kids have it off. Since I’ve had my little boy who’s 3, I’ve worked Christmas Eve night which I hated. I cried leaving him to go to bed and not being there in the morning when he woke up. This year I worked Christmas Day night. We had the day together, had Christmas dinner and then I went off to work. It’s rubbish having to miss out on things, but I just think I’m the lucky one that gets to walk back out of the door again when my shift is over. It’s much more important to give the kids and their parents a caring, compassionate stay then to worry about one day of the year x

It’s crap for their families OP. Try it you’ll see.

DH before retiring was high ranking part of a squad who were on call for major crimes if not already roster to be on duty.
Many a Christmas/New years day he would get the call to come in. He couldn’t have any alcohol or relax fully.
Every New Year’s Day For 7 yrs there would be a murder or attempted murder, I kid you not, Scotland, he’d leave the house and we didn’t see him again till next day.

Got promoted out of this particular squad to office hrs mainly but still available on the phone for major incidents.

For any family who have to work at this time of year are undervalued, especially our Police Fire and NHS services.

I also work in healthcare (with mental health). Got up at 6am yesterday to open presents with young DD, then off to work I went. Its accepted as part of our job, but can be a bit shit tbh when you get patients with very entitled attitudes expecting to be waited on when they can see you are rushed off your feet

it’s just the way it is sometimes, the year before last my show was working Christmas, new year, both mine and dc’s birthdays and our wedding anniversary. It’s not a choice for most, 🤷‍♀️

I've not done it since having children and offered pre kids so parents didn't have to.

In NHS. First one I worked was awful, I'd not long qualified so felt out of my depth on minimal staffing. First patient was a terminally ill man close to death with family arriving. It was quite overwhelming and dad for the 21yo fresh out of uni me. I still think of that man and his family each Christmas. Practically it was hard to get food unless you had brought it. Christmas cheer had all but gone. There is a huge rush to get everyone possible home for xmas from hospital, pulling out all the stops. Only the sickest remain.

2nd one I worked over a decade later. Felt like a run of the mill weekend shift, just wanting to get home asap!

It is really shit. Particularly shit with young children. I absolutely hated it with a passion and it is one of the main reasons I no longer do frontline work (other reasons too!). DH still does it sometimes so I hold the fort at home if he is in. Nights are the worst as you can’t even have a festive drink.

Sometimes there is a nice festive spirit but I find this is more the case pre-Christmas. On Christmas/ New Year itself you get told your knew what you were signing up for’, ‘it’s a vocation’ and other such lines.

In fact I hate it so much that I refuse to ever go out or do anything non-essential on Christmas Boxing Day as working it can be so awful.

Huge respect for those working it.

Dh not show 🙈

I’ve worked Xmas day around 15 times I think, over a span of being single, married and with DCs. Since having DCs I’ve rushed home to see them hopefully by 9pm. We do then have a big day on Boxing Day as we hold some presents for then.

I worked in a children's hospice, some years it was lovely and some it was the hardest thing I have ever done, watching a family lose their beloved son/daughter/sibling/grandchild at such a festive time of year was truly humbling.

I have worked a lot of Christmas days and don't mind it. I was meant to be off this year but volunteered to work for a colleague. DH was working so thought I may as well offer. I work in a police control room and DH is a police officer so it probably helps that it is needed. We work in a busy stressful environment and on Christmas day it is a bit more relaxed which makes it more enjoyable.