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AIBU?

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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:
TeenLifeMum · 22/12/2023 21:46

We have to have a skeleton staff in and it’s my turn so three of us are working next week. I have a project I can progress so can sit on the sofa comfy doing a rather tedious but simple job. Not expecting much else to crop up but there’s a chance it might. I’ve got the whole week at half term in February and am really looking forward to that one as it’ll be a proper break.

CasperGutman · 22/12/2023 21:49

I'll be working from home, in a professional office job. I have plenty of work to be getting on with. In fact, if no new work came in I could stay busy with current caseload for a couple of years. Don't worry about me being underemployed!

AcrossthePond55 · 22/12/2023 21:49

@Abitboring

I get your dislike of the office slacker's 'ways'. But how does it really affect you? Do you get the slacker's undone workload pushed on you? Do you have to come in early/stay late because the slacker 'slacked' or called in? Does your supervisor make you 'responsible' for seeing the slacker gets their work done? Can you not do your work until the slacker has done theirs? If yes, then take it to management or your union. No? Then why are you putting so much precious emotional energy into negativity and resentment of something that really doesn't affect you directly. Life's too short.

If you're directly impacted and you've spoken to management or your union about it and they choose to/can do nothing, there's nothing more you can do. As my Gran used to say "What cannot be cured must be endured". So say "Fuck 'em all" and get on with your day taking pride in your own work ethic.

I worked 35 years in a Civil Service job. Believe me, I saw more than my fair share of slackers and incompetent people in high places. Was there anything I could do? Not a damned thing. So I learnt to ignore them and get on with my day. And the slackers learnt never to ask me for favours or help with their work.

toomanyleggings · 22/12/2023 21:51

I can’t take any annual leave because everyone else is off sick or on annual leave.

WashItTomorrow · 22/12/2023 21:52

I applied for those days as leave but I had them all denied, so I have to work them. I work from home/ computer based, but it’s very full on. I won’t be able to take it easy. It’s a busy time of year work-wise.

ListenLinda · 22/12/2023 21:53

Didnt have a choice, colleague got in there before me & booked it off, just means I will have to get in there early next year 😊

PeloMom · 22/12/2023 21:55

Before kid I used to work that period as was super quiet. Then would take a/l when people with kids were working ( and travelling was much cheaper). And yes, most days I could finish around noon and call it a day ( employer allowed that)

Doyouthinktheyknow · 22/12/2023 21:56

I’m a fairly new 9-5er but I always work between Christmas and new year because what the fuck am I going to do with the time off🤷‍♀️

I have loads of work to do, the pleasant bit is a lot of the people that add to my workload, fill my inbox and create loads of meetings do take the time off so it’s easier to get on and be productive!

I genuinely like it and don’t feel I am slacking in the slightest. It was the last day before the ease off today and I genuinely feel like I worked as hard as I ever have!

Roundycippae · 22/12/2023 21:57

Deceitful? What a weird interpretation. Not all businesses want to shut all over the Xmas period, so are happy to have some people in - in fact I can’t think of a single client of ours who says ‘ we shut for a week, bye…’

either choose to work over the festive period, and yes it’s quiet but still stuff to do. Or use holiday and have a full break.

You know some people have very little family? Or find Xmas difficult for lots of reasons? And the idea of a week of not working seems interminable?
You know that some people are of different faiths, and would rather save the holiday time for Ramadan or Eid or Diwali etc?

or they’re atheist and the idea of taking a week off for a religious holiday when they don’t want to,
is ridiculous?

Ourshoddyhouse · 22/12/2023 21:58

I wanted to book it off but too many people on my team got their request in first, so having to work... It's not my fault if there's not much to do 🤷🏽‍♀️

Comefromaway · 22/12/2023 21:58

If we don’t save enough leave we don’t get paid.
Usually a manager might go in for a day or two to deal with anything (we have engineers on call during this period) but otherwise we close.

Roundycippae · 22/12/2023 21:59

Do you feel the same about August OP? That’s a very quiet time for many European companies as it’s traditionally a month when many people take holiday
timenoff around kids being off school…

VanGoghsDog · 22/12/2023 21:59

I'm not taking annual leave, but it's not because I've used it all up, I'm carrying three over so they could have made me take it, but they didn't.

I'll be working, I have plenty to do, plus two lots of online training to do by end of Dec.

I accept they will be easy days though with so many other people off I doubt I'll be contacted much and I've no meetings.

Roundycippae · 22/12/2023 22:02

‘I do resent the slackers though and I can't help but think they deliberately planned it that way. They will absolutely not be at their desk at home. They barely manage to turn up on time during other times of the year and take long breaks. They'll one day be the reason my company calls us all back into the office.’

So work them, and save your AL, so you won’t be so weirdly bitter.

Benibidibici · 22/12/2023 22:03

My office needs a handful of people to "man the phones" so to speak.

Basically there's a few unavoidable tasks to do with approving things for asian countries that don't shut down over christmas, making some regulatory type filings & payments and stuff. We are required to rota a specific number of people to work, for various reasons.

The rest of us appreciate those people being on call & dealing with that stuff so we can completely shut off, we know they get a quiet few days but its a fair deal to them for working it when the rest of us don't want to.

LimeCheesecake · 22/12/2023 22:05

Most places I’ve worked have closed between Christmas and New Year, you had no choice but to take the time off then. If a company doesn’t shut, it’s usually because they need at least some people in, and have accepted they won’t do much work.

That “slackers” in your team get away with it, and your company doesn’t plan round Christmas shut down etc, it does suggest you work at a badly managed company. “Good” employees in such companies tend to fall into two categories- those who quietly seethe about a piss-taker getting away with something or other regularly, and those who go work for a better run company. I’d suggest you join the crowd making “get a new job” their New Year’s resolution.

Fluffyhoglets · 22/12/2023 22:06

My office job is busy as ever over Christmas. I.might get a few less phone calls but I'm hoping to catch up with some of the back log of work.

GaryLurcher19 · 22/12/2023 22:12

What makes you think people in offices have nothing to do, OP? I've been an office worker a few times over the years and 'quiet' time like this is when we got on top of mandatory audits etc...

gillefc82 · 22/12/2023 22:14

I very rarely take leave during the Christmas/NY period. I use the time for all the admin type tasks that I otherwise don’t get the time to do when workload demands are at their normal level; e.g. sorting my inbox and filing emails into the right folders.

I WFH and it is much quieter, so I generally don’t have to be “logged in” for the usual 7.5 hours, but I do need to be available should anything crop up and as above, do find a way to use the time productively.

I wouldn’t ever take the mick (like going away on a break when I was meant to be working etc) but I do think it’s perfectly reasonable to enjoy the slower pace that this time of year brings, especially as the weeks leading up to Christmas are usually manic!

Judystilldreamsofhorses · 22/12/2023 22:22

My DP’s company’s leave year runs from 1 January so lots of people have used their holidays by now. The company (oil with offshore assets) operates 365 days. He will be working between but will do at least one at home and Friday they always finish at lunchtime (compacted working week). Will they be his most productive days ever? Probably not, but the days he battled on WFH with Covid when he should definitely have been in bed but had a massive project deadline balance it out!

saltinesandcoffeecups · 22/12/2023 22:34

Well @Abitboring you know the answer here. Next year take all your AL and work between Christmas and NY.

Problem solved.

Teder · 22/12/2023 22:45

I still don’t undertand why you don’t just book it off yourself next year!

I don’t mind working those days; roads are quiet, fewer disturbances so I can get admin done and the office is full of chocolate. We have to have a certain percentage of staff working, so I’m happy to offer. It is not a case of “nothing to do” but it’s certainly an easier ride .

Panaa · 22/12/2023 22:58

Of course it isn't deceitful.
People don't live to work. If they aren't forced to use annual leave at that time then they can do whatever suits them.

louderthan · 22/12/2023 23:31

For the first time in about 15 years I'm in a job which doesn't require me to work over Christmas. I'm beside myself with joy.

CasperGutman · 23/12/2023 05:42

Panaa · 22/12/2023 22:58

Of course it isn't deceitful.
People don't live to work. If they aren't forced to use annual leave at that time then they can do whatever suits them.

This. A job is a transaction, in the end. Your employer gives you money in exchange for making yourself available and performing work they give you during designated times.

If your employer is designating the period between Christmas and New Year as one of those times (at least implicitly, by not closing the office) and then failing to provide adequate work to do, then that's their lookout. You - no less that your colleagues - are under no obligation to remedy their mistake by using up your limited annual leave at a time that doesn't suit you.