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.

Actually that's wrong. Because of Bank Holidays!

I took a week annual leave for christmas but we get bank holidays off so on my week back im only working 3 days yay.

For those of you who are saying that you are only able to carry 5 days, the regulations have been temporarily amended due to Covid. There are some exceptions, but make sure your company is acting correctly with regards to this year’s annual leave entitlement

www.gov.uk/government/news/rules-on-carrying-over-annual-leave-to-be-relaxed-to-support-key-industries-during-covid-19

I finished on the 9th Dec and go back 5th Jan. I had loads of leave left built up from maternity!

Normally none, as a nurse I have to work and not allowed Annual Leave over Christmas, however this year is the first year I have not worked in years due to shielding.

I’m off 23 Dec - 4 Jan. Workplace closes for everyone and annual leave is saved for this period but that’s fine as my children will be off then too so I can spend some time with them.

In my previous job that I was made redundant from this year the place closed for 2 weeks virtually in line with the school hols so I would always get that off (sometimes a bit more because it was a 7 day a week business and I only worked part time so it would depend on how my days fell)

In my new job this year I am off from Tuesday next week until Monday 4th Jan so virtually 2 weeks...that’s with me using leave for Tues & Weds next week though. I thought I would have to use leave for the other days that I should be working but the company just give them to us because they shut the building down. Another nicety compared to my last job as I always had to save 2 weeks of hol!

I'm off from the 24th to the 4th. I do an office job but my role has to be covered by my boss if I'm not in as we support other people in time critical work so one of us has to be available to deal with queries. I was so happy when he said he didn't want to take any Christmas leave this year!!

I’m off from this evening until 5th January - can’t wait!

I'm a teacher so obvs I get 2 weeks (will work a couple of the days from home) but DH works in the private sector and uses annual leave to have 2 weeks off over xmas. He finishes tomorrow and is back Jan 4th.

I always had two weeks off as building industry shut down traditionally those two weeks so the office closed.

My husband has also always had those two weeks off some annual leave and rest because office is shut for part of it.

Most of my family work in education/ offices and also always have those two weeks off.

NHS nurse - no leave at all this Christmas. Will be up 5.30am Christmas day and off to the ward. I do get envious when I see my Facebook feed covered with photos of everyone else off having a lovely time.

I do care in the community, and often end up with more work over this period, as many of our staff have little ones, and we try to give them their time off.
Nature of the job means bank holiday/weekend norms for most people pass us by! Extra money but not much.
Worth it though.

I'm off tomorrow until the 4th (teacher).

This term has been the toughest of my career, so it's very much needed.

I’m off from Christmas Eve until the 18th of Jan, but it’s summer here, and taking 3-4 weeks isn’t all that unusual.

We aren’t allowed to book any leave over xmas, you work your usual days (apart from xmas day), you are then allocated either xmas eve or boxing day as your day off.

my office shuts shop from christmas eve to the new year apart from a very small rota.

We close today until the 5th January, I work in early years and the business closes for these two weeks, can’t wait. I’ve always worked in retail And then hospitality so a fortnight off for me is a new thing.

One of my colleagues got told yesterday that they can't have the time off between Christmas and the new year. They requested it in June. A heated conversation ensued

I have two days off other than the bank holidays. By choice so I can have the leave at other times.

The only thing I would add is that where there is an office/workplace open during this time, no-one should automatically expect the time off every year. This year has been rare for how few threads there have been about Christmas leave and real/perceived unfairness.

@choosername1234

Genuine question but what NHS key worker roles always have Christmas off? I thought the whole point of key workers were that their job was essential to keep the NHS running I'm an A&E nurse, usually work New Years nights

Same, A&E nurse here as well and I was wondering the same

The place i work is completely shutdown over Xmas so we have no choice but to take 2 weeks off.

I mean it’s not really surprising that for places that stay open over Christmas / provide a service that doesn’t stop for Xmas etc etc that lots of people will still have to work , including myself

Depends on the job.

I will take 4 weeks off - I am self employed, finished up last week.
OH only took a few days off his work over summer, so had annual leave to use up, so has been off from the 11th Dec, won't go back until the 4th Jan.

Imagine having this Friday off until the 4th Jan, how funny is that?"

This is DEFINITELY a dig at school workers and quite frankly anyone who posts this can get fucked or go and get a job in a school themselves.