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Original poster

Annual leave at Christmas

281 replies

Miamarshmallows · 16/12/2020 22:11

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.

OP posts:
Meepmeeep · 16/12/2020 22:35

My husband is a ‘keyworker’ and has taken the whole of December off and won’t be back until probably the second week in January. A mix of annual leave, closed days and days he’s accrued.

tinselfest · 16/12/2020 22:35

I finish on the 24th and go back on the 4th Jan. Factory shut-down so everyone takes the time off. We get the bank holidays, but have to reserve some of our own holiday entitlement for the rest.

Starseeking · 16/12/2020 22:35

My office closes between Christmas and New Year, and it doesn't have to taken as annual leave. I've taken the 4 days off before Christmas Day, so I'll be off from this Friday, until 4 January, the full 2 weeks. A lot of people do this at my work, it's pretty standard.

Didyousaynutella · 16/12/2020 22:35

This thread depresses me as I am a key worker (nhs) and I never get time off or I have to fight for it. I put in for one day next Christmas between christmas and new year so we can maybe go away for a few days and it’s already been booked up so on a waiting list. I only work part time and DH is the main earner so gets frustrated it affects our ability to do anything at Christmas.

Gah. Why did I pick this career?

vodkaredbullgirl · 16/12/2020 22:37

Work in a care home, so can not take annual leave.

atomicnotsoblonde · 16/12/2020 22:37

NHS, senior manager I get 21-24 dec. Then I'm on through to 4th. Single parent with sole residence so it's not ideal, especially after what we've been through with covid.

Heyahun · 16/12/2020 22:37

My office always closes for 2 weeks! Out last day is Friday - we don’t have to use annual leave for it - same in the last company I worked at too?

TwoBlueFish · 16/12/2020 22:37

I work in retail and am not allowed to book annual leave in December. The store is shut on Christmas Day and Boxing Day and I’m off 24th-26th. My previous job shut for a week between Christmas and New Year.

MrsMoastyToasty · 16/12/2020 22:38

I finish tomorrow and return on the 5th January. It's a mixture of annual leave, non working days, office closure days, the bank holidays and changing my working week the first week back. DH on the other hand is now working every day until Christmas eve and Christmas day and then is back at work on Boxing day. He works for a warehouse for a major high street department store which also does food.

Nydj · 16/12/2020 22:38

@Miamarshmallows, was your friend having a dig at teachers? Sadly, it seems to be a favourite pastime for many people these days.

EasterIssland · 16/12/2020 22:38

Last day tomorrow for me til the 4th. I had another 5 days to book that I’ve sold to the company

MaverickDanger · 16/12/2020 22:39

I’m on mat leave this year but would normally have Friday as my last day and return on the 4th.

Last year I was off from 6th Dec to 6th Jan.

AliMonkey · 16/12/2020 22:40

When I first started work, I usually worked at least part of the week between Boxing Day and NYD and loved it - no clients calling, everyone in good mood, lots of food, went home on time for a change. Since getting married (and having to see two families), I've usually taken off from Christmas Eve until new year. Since having kids, have had to take more time off to cover school holidays as well, so often off for two weeks in total but not all consecutive (as share "school holiday time off" with DH). This year, I'm one of the few not off for at least two weeks as most of my colleagues are using up their annual leave that they didn't take earlier in year due to cancelled holidays etc - but am still off for nearly two weeks.

Ginnotgym · 16/12/2020 22:42

I finished on the 11th until the 6th jan!

ZenNudist · 16/12/2020 22:42

Loads of my colleagues off from Friday, many til 11th!!
off from 22nd until 6th. I gave up finishing Friday as I have to go in one more day (22nd) to get Some work done then be off one extra day with dc.

Okbye · 16/12/2020 22:44

My last day is Friday 18th and not back till the 6th Jan. I do work part time though and I'm lucky where Christmas falls this year.

I'm only having to take 2.5 days leave for 2 and a half weeks off! Definitely a perk of being part time even though I get paid pittance lol Grin

bridgetreilly · 16/12/2020 22:44

Most people prefer not to use up too much of their annual leave for Christmas. Especially if you’re in a job where bank holidays are included rather than extras, two weeks is a lot to mostly just sit around at home doing nothing.

ToniTheDonkey · 16/12/2020 22:45

Two weeks? I haven’t had two weeks off at Christmas since I was at school! In 2007 I did have a week off to go abroad with a bunch of friends for one of their 30ths.
I normally only get the Bank Holidays (25th, 26th & 1st) off, as I go in to the office so that others who have families can take the time off. However, this year, we’ve been given the three days between Christmas and New Year as special leave, which was a lovely surprise. Mind you, I don’t mind working those three days as it’s quiet so you can get lots done.

Tohaveandtohold · 16/12/2020 22:46

We either have the Christmas week or New Years week off, never both. But I’m off from Friday the 18th to the 28th as it’s a bank holiday then have a 3 day weekend for New Year’s Day weekend

nocoolnamesleft · 16/12/2020 22:48

I'm getting 4 consecutive days off this year. That's as good as it gets. Then I'm back for 48 hours straight...

SlippersForFlippers · 16/12/2020 22:48

I've only had 1 job where I got Christmas Eve until 2nd Jan off and only got go to work there for 1 Christmas!

Previous roles include retail and call centres. Now in NHS so have leave shared between the team, every one got what they wanted this year.

JorisBonson · 16/12/2020 22:50

Both frontline keyworkers and both off from Friday - 5th.

Just luck with how the bank holidays have fallen this year as well as some random days off in between.

Olivetreekeeper · 16/12/2020 22:51

I used to only have Xmas day off, then Xmas day and boxing day (hospitality then retail). Third Christmas working for a university and still not used to the leave! Two solid weeks this year, we've been given two days free for having such a sh*t year too. Quids in!

Womencanlift · 16/12/2020 22:52

I always take the two weeks off. Fortunately I work in an area where if everyone took it off there would be absolutely no impact so it’s never been declined. We don’t shut down as such (company too big) but nothing happens so no issue taking the time

Going back in the 4th seems too early for me. I like it when Christmas and New Year fall in such a way that you finish around the 21st/22nd and go back 7th/8th January

Judystilldreamsofhorses · 16/12/2020 22:53

I finish on Friday and not back until 7 January. Most of my work are back on the 6, but I do four days and have a Wednesday off. (Lecturer.)

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