Annual leave at Christmas

[Miamarshmallows]

If you work/had a job, how much time did you take off at Christmas?
My friend posted on Facebook just now with 'Imagine having this Friday off until the 4th Jan, how funny is that?" and everyone responded with laughing emojis. I'm guessing because it's a rarity to have 2 weeks off for Christmas? Except it isn't. I know many colleagues spread their leave out but I always had 2 weeks off at Christmas. Just wondered if I was in the minority?! Obviously it's different for keyworkers etc.

I've worked in a few offices that have shut down between Christmas and NY. Not the bigger ones however. Some you had to save holiday for, some were 'given' days.

I'm mid 30s and only in my current job (been here 4 years) have I had a Christmas shutdown. Ever since I was 16 I've worked in industries that at most got Christmas day off. I've worked the odd Christmas day in other jobs.

Working somewhere that actually shuts up shop is amazing.

Where are all these people working who get 2 weeks off without having to use leave?

I'm 42 and have been working in various offices since 2001. I've never had 2 weeks off at Christmas (apart from when on maternity leave). I've had the time off in between before when the office shut, but had to use annual leave. Must say I'm very envious of a lot of the posters on here.

We get one extra day off at Xmas. Always have done. Aside from the main bank holidays. It maddens me every year because a lot of the time over Xmas we are twiddling our thumbs as it’s so quiet, so obviously not necessary for us to be there. The only good thing I guess is that wfh, I can have the lap top on, and just chill in between work coming in.

Four weeks last year. Probably three or four days this year. We have been given two days extra, but I'm too busy to take it.

I have Boxing Day and New Year’s Day off but that’s it. Those are my rest days. No leave allowed throughout December until the end of January.

Btw, I don’t mind it. It’s part of the job and it’s always been the same. I knew that I would work most Christmas’.

DH is NHS but office based in IT. He is off after tomorrow until the 18th, he usually works up until Christmas Eve and then takes the days between Christmas and New year but this year he has leave left to take.

@ TheDaydreamBelievers

Yes - I’m lucky that I don’t do any out of hours and our department is quiet over Xmas. Mind you when you are left on your own it is pretty hectic! Sadly my husband is on call for 24 hrs on Boxing Day but you can’t have everything!!!

I’m on enforced leave over Christmas. All the contractors get kicked out for 3 weeks. It’s marvellous!

I’m a nurse, no annual leave allowed over the 2 week Christmas/New Year period. I’m working a night shift Christmas Eve.

Govt. Department. Not a key worker

Have never had 2 weeks off for Christmas. We usually have to have between 60% and 80% of staff in the office over the Xmas/new year period (depending on what the powers that be decide)

You can't even book to go on holiday unless it's last minute as requests for leave are collated sometime in November and approved beginning of December.

I usually take 2 to 3 days

I’m an office worker, I’ve got loads of leave due to all my plans being cancelled this year. Our company encouraged us to use some so I finish tomorrow and am only working one day (29th) then not back until 4th January.

It’s not unusual in my team for at least 2-3 people to take 2 weeks off over Christmas.

I would normally finish Christmas Eve then start again beginning of January. However I had some leave left over so I've treated myself to a few extra days; my last day at work is the 21st Dec and don't go back until 4th January.

Guess it depends on 1. the industry you're in and 2. how many days leave you've got left over

We have to use three days leave for the office closure between Christmas and NYD. I usually take the week before off too.

I’m a keyworker (not NHS) and I have 2 weeks off and so do a lot of my colleagues. We just have to have a minimum number of people still working in case some emergency comes up, but it’s unlikely to over Xmas due to the nature of our work (touch wood!). My work has actually always had a half day on Xmas eve and NYE so no one works those afternoons or the bank holidays.

I'm self employed now and give myself 2 weeks off to correspond with the kids school holidays.
But when I worked in a proper job we were closed the 3 working days between Christmas and New Year and didn't get any other time off normally so it would be about a week each year. Which I thought was good. I could take more but preferred to have it in the summer.

We have to share the leave so I’ve got before Christmas and boss has the week after Christmas. I’ve never been able to take both weeks except when I worked in a school for 3 years.

In the legal sector. We close 4 pm Christmas eve. back in on the 27th until New Years eve. Then back 2nd (depending on how weekdays fall clearly.

Christmas is one of our busiest and most stressful times of the year with families falling apart.

I nearly always budget to have 2 weeks off at Christmas. I'd rather have that, than 2 weeks in the summer. End of the day, its my allowance and unless I'm actively impacting my team/company, I can take it when I want.

Christmas is normally a great time to take leave for those that want it, as suppliers/clients etc are often winding down. Likewise its a decent time to not take time off - several in my team are working next week up until christmas eve, but they and I know full well it'll be 'working' to some extent because it'll be very quiet. Fine by me.

this year its even a bit different because of COVID - quite a few people haven't taken leave and have a little 'encouragement' from HR not to roll too many over to next year. So some of my team and my clients are off for 3 or even 4 weeks.

As for the comments from colleagues laughing - bollocks work pressure nonsense. The kinds of people that probably like to be seen to be leaving the office last by the manager becuase that means they're working 'hard' when I prefer measurign performance by results, and having a reasonable work/life balance - for my team as well as myself.

one good/bad thing our company does is a full office closure. This year its the week between christmas and new year - so we're closed all that week. Thats good to ensure people get a break, however it isn't free - we have to use our leave to cover it - so three days normally has to be reserved to cover it. Doesn't affect me as I'd be off anyway, but can be frustrating for anyone that wants to work

I finish on Tuesday. Back on the 6th. Because I work part time anyway so am taking 3 days A/L for this. I worked all through the pandemic, evenings and weekends, and I'm really grateful to have this break

Husband is in a job where there is shut down for a week anyway but saves leave for a few days before Xmas too- usually we've had to go and visit every man, woman and dog in the universe but now, 2 weeks just the 3 of us and our dogs (bar maybe 2 days of visits)

I finished yesterday lunchtime and not back until the 4th. I normally try and have at least a week off, preferably two. I’m part time though and work from home at the moment so it’s better to be off when the kids break up.