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Original poster

About those who don't take annual leave between Christmas and NY

253 replies

Abitboring · 22/12/2023 16:42

Some people in office jobs have nothing to do between Christmas and NY. I don't mean all, but some as businesses are closed etc.

Is it clever have no annual leave left but be effectively off work during those days?

Or is it deceitful to use up all annual leave during the rest of the year and then have nothing left for those days but be kind of off anyway?

OP posts:
Catza · 22/12/2023 17:44

I covered many Xmases and New years in the outpatient services and it's always been dead. The service can make a decision to close and they don't so who am I to say what they want to pay for. I still need to be available. I can't jet off to the beach and pretend I am working. I don't see why you would think me being immoral for attending my designated shift.

RendeersDancingTowardsChristmas · 22/12/2023 17:45

Surely, this depends on the job / business.

If the office is open, then you are expected to work, again how much or how little depends on the type of business.
I don't mind working thouse days- its rainy cold and miserable. DC are busy with their new toys, and if you decide to venture out, everything is crowded and expensive. (I do reserve the right for first dibs at Easter as we usually go on holiday then!)
I usually use the time to catch up on "housekeeping" tasks and will be available for any other work coming through.
For businesses that are closed, I would assume it's either taken from A/L or given to you as extra!

EmpressoftheMundane · 22/12/2023 17:47

Organisations can decide to have a Christmas shutdown, if they choose to. Many factories do. If they choose not to, and there is no work for employees, you can’t blame the employees.

Companies with Christmas shut downs are effectively dictate that three days of leave must be taken between Xmas and New Year. It’s in the employment contracts.

Sugarsun · 22/12/2023 17:48

My work place is closed and so I have no choice but to be off.

But they have it as part of our annual leave, which is unfair for many but I don’t mind it as I’m guaranteed to have time off which I want.

Edinburghguy · 22/12/2023 17:48

I WfH and do exactly this. It’s very quiet at this time with no meetings and I save my AL for other times of the year.

Thar being said, most of my colleagues want the full time off so I’m happy to cover. It’s no biggie.

Changingforever23 · 22/12/2023 17:49

I am working this year (normally off) I do expect it to be quiet but I am covering the work of the 14 others that are off on annual leave 😆 so I am sure I will have things to do!

Doingmybest12 · 22/12/2023 17:51

I'd love to be on leave but was asked if I'd work as others have all booked annual leave. I intend to do the minimum ,obviously will cover any crises but I am not going to look.for work. I feel I'm doing the team a favour by being available when no one else was willing.

Gnomegnomegnome · 22/12/2023 17:52

I get more work done when less people are in.
We are never not busy.
Quite a few in my office are off but I would prefer to work and use AL for when it’s sunny!

Tokek · 22/12/2023 17:53

I'm in a 9-5 NHS job. It's business as usual between Xmas and New Year. I'm hugely thankful that I'm not in the kind of industry in which I'd be forced to use up some of my precious leave on this period. Would much rather take it spring to autumn. It really isn't "deceitful" to wish to do the same in a job in which there may be less to do in the betwixtmas period.

Beautiful3 · 22/12/2023 17:53

I worked with some jehovahs witnesses who don't celebrate Christmas. They preferred to work the Christmas period, saving annual leave for the summer. They had nothing to do during Christmas, but they manned the office for emergencies and replied to emails. It worked well for us, because we all wanted Christmas off.

Torganer · 22/12/2023 17:53

Ours is forced leave (but we do get generous leave). Don’t see why it affects you as you’ve booked it off. If you think it sounds like a doss, then you’re free to do the same surely?

Where can I get one of these office jobs where I am paid just to move a mouse around?

InflatableSanta · 22/12/2023 17:54

I always have way too much work.(public sector) so I can assure you I am working flat out between Christmas and New year just as much as the rest of the year. There might be fewer meetings, but that just means I can get on with som focussed drafting or research.

pointythings · 22/12/2023 17:56

I'm NHS back office. We need someone in on all three days to cover any emergencies that require a record. I am doing a half day to cover a standing meeting that hasn't been cancelled - it's 2.5 hours and I will use the rest of the time to complete the minutes and actions. If anything goes wrong, I will deal with that also - because when this happens, it is always very serious and requires accurate minuting of what is said and decided.

For my colleagues, it may well be that nothing will happen on the days that they are covering - but they have to be available.

Shopper727 · 22/12/2023 17:59

I’m nhs too, my clinics are dead and I’m in next week just Thursday Friday and same again following week. I don’t expect them to be busy however plenty admin etc I can be doing we are allowed annual leave but there needs to be so many of us on to cover clinics and extra for any sickness

AGoingConcern · 22/12/2023 18:00

I genuinely can't figure out what your problem is, here. People should use their leave (within the company's rules) at the times that they most need & benefit from it. That includes you - if you think not taking leave between Christmas and NY so you can take those days another time makes sense for you, you should absolutely do that.

Why are you upset that someone else is being smart about their leave?

idontlikealdi · 22/12/2023 18:03

In my old firm I worked it, which essentially meant being there in case something needed attention, which it usually did.

New firm enforced to save 3 days as they close but I am still expected to check in a couple of times a day which has really annoyed me.

enchantedsquirrelwood · 22/12/2023 18:03

Abitboring · 22/12/2023 16:51

@NearlyMonday This is about office jobs, not retail. If you keep a shop open you are working. If you move your mouse once a day you are not.

Well that's just the way it is, isn't it? If there is really no work, the employer should close.

If it's quiet and there isn't much to do, that's the way the cookie crumbles. It's about having people there if there is work. If there isn't, you spend the time doing admin and MNing.

I am not working inbetween this year.

I think it can also depend on how your holiday year works - ours is Jan to Dec, so people will end up using up leave now. DH's holiday year is September to August, so I think they have more people in in late December.

pumpkinfarm · 22/12/2023 18:04

Edinburghguy · 22/12/2023 17:48

I WfH and do exactly this. It’s very quiet at this time with no meetings and I save my AL for other times of the year.

Thar being said, most of my colleagues want the full time off so I’m happy to cover. It’s no biggie.

This. Personally, I find it a waste of annual leave taking time off between Christmas and New Year. My manager is off, most of the team are off, and I work from home. I'll check emails regularly, respond to anything urgent, and probably relax/catch up on housework too. Who really cares? Everyone else is free to do the same if they choose, but other people prefer to be properly off.

Allshallbewell2021 · 22/12/2023 18:05

I hear you OP, it's what people do at my work, they will be chatting and chilling and leaving early for sure. But what can you do when all the senior staff are long gone on holiday.
I hate the colleagues who are always 'ill' on Fridays when they're going away and other such lead swinging!

gannett · 22/12/2023 18:06

Abitboring · 22/12/2023 16:51

@NearlyMonday This is about office jobs, not retail. If you keep a shop open you are working. If you move your mouse once a day you are not.

Still getting paid though, so obviously working enough for my employer. Not really sure what your opinion has to do with it. "Deceitful" is very silly. Not everyone's jobs involves having to be actively busy from 9 to 5.

Beezknees · 22/12/2023 18:07

I wouldn't waste my precious annual leave on those days! I'm working the 27th, 28th and 29th. Rather have time off when the weather is nice.

It's up to the employers, it's not really anything to do with anyone else.

CruCru · 22/12/2023 18:08

In my last job I actually had quite a lot to do between Christmas and New Year - mainly providing preliminary figures for companies whose accounting period was up to 31 December. I’d get cross because people would find out I was in and would assume I wouldn’t have much to do.

The last time I worked Christmas Eve my unit head asked me to look after his children (the senior guys used to bring their kids in on Christmas Eve) and it was a bit awkward when I said no, I had to submit some numbers.

Tokek · 22/12/2023 18:08

Beautiful3 · 22/12/2023 17:53

I worked with some jehovahs witnesses who don't celebrate Christmas. They preferred to work the Christmas period, saving annual leave for the summer. They had nothing to do during Christmas, but they manned the office for emergencies and replied to emails. It worked well for us, because we all wanted Christmas off.

I'd have thought that the biggest divide would be between parents and non parents. Surely people of other religions will still need to cover school holidays.

EnglishGirlApproximately · 22/12/2023 18:08

I'm working over day in between but my manager has told me to check email occasionally and keep my phone on but I'm not expected to do more than that. She's covering the other two days the same way. Its a quiet time in our industry but January is manic so there's no issue with enjoying a bit of a break, we'll more than make up for it the week after!

IHaveNeverLivedintheCastle · 22/12/2023 18:12

NearlyMonday · 22/12/2023 16:50

So hypothetically, you could be working in retail, but you’re only really classed as working if you have lots of customers to serve? If your shop is quiet, you’re not really working?

I guess what the OP is thinking of is something like the admin support staff roles for solicitors, accountants, architects, designers and the like. Staff who will only have work to do if the professional fee earning staff are doing things which need support.

None of the 20 fee earning staff in my department are working between Christmas and New Year. I'm not sure about other departments but I'd be surprised if it was into double figures from around 200 people. Two of the support staff are "working" from home.

There's nothing they can do unless a fee earner dictates an instruction. Yes they have to have their laptops switched on and logged in and they won't be able to go out just in case they do have to do something. That won't prevent them reading a book or watching television.