What do you work as & do you get time off at Christmas?

[VillageFete]

As the title states!!

Does your job allow you time off at Christmas? If not, have you ever had to work Christmas day?

I guess it's a case of planning and managing your time around work, but wouldn't it be lovely if we all got the whole of December off!!

[gamescompendium]

I work in the pharmaceutical industry. We use to always get the week between Christmas and New Year off (there would be a site shutdown so lots of service engineers on site). Now we officially work over the Christmas period but in reality most people are off. I've got a project in manufacture over Christmas though so think I might need to be on call (and won't get paid overtime because I'm management).

[MsVenus]

I work in education and my office has a compulsory shut down from Xmas Eve until New Year.

[reddaisy]

I now work at a university and it will be the first year that I haven't worked during the Christmas/New Year period for a decade (apart from maternity leaves) and I can't wait!

[TallyGrenshall]

I work in a pub and it's shut Christmas day, any extra days depend on how the rota falls as we're not allowed to take holiday. I'm lucky this year because I'll be working boxing day afternoon and new years day instead of the nights

[newnameforanewstart]

Doctor in charge of A and E - I have to work over Christmas, and have worked Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, Boxing Day, New Years Eve etc over the years repeatedly!

Hoping to have Christmas Day off this year as the whole family is supposed to be coming to mine - its a long story!

[HeyMicky]

Work in pharma. We work an extra 30 mins a week, which accrues so the company gives us three days between Xmas and new year. Xmas eve is a half day. So this year if I take the 2nd off, I'll have 9 1/2 days break

[thegreenheartofmanyroundabouts]

I'm a member of the clergy so Christmas is a bit busy! There are services Christmas Eve, then Midnight Mass and two services Christmas morning then it is break open the bubbly and a week off.

[rocketeer]

Work at a uni and get 23rd- 2nd off, sometimes more depending on weekends. I know I'm very lucky though as it is tagged on extra to our leave.

[Fattyfattyyumyum]

I only work 3 days & my office closes between Xmas & NY, so by taking 23rd as annual leave I get almost 3 weeks off

[Stinkyfeet]

Local Authority, non essential service. The whole office closes down at 4pm on the 24th, until Jan 2nd. I usually take a few days annual leave and end up with about 2 weeks off.

[ElizabethMedora]

DH is a doctor, in the 4 years he has been working in hospital he has always been off for Christmas Day although he has worked Christmas Eve/Boxing Day. This year he is off Christmas Eve, Day & Boxing Day, then on nights from 27th - 1st Jan.

[PumpkinBones]

I'm a fundraising manager, and can book time off over Christmas although I check
Emails etc - this year I had nearly 3 weeks. DH is a chef; and how much time he gets off depends on where he is working - he used to work in the in house restaurant of a very large manufacturer which shut down for 2 weeks at Christmas, but it didn't come out of an (above average) holiday entitlement. When there was a restructure, staff voted to get rid of the shutdown! He has recently started a new job, unlikely to be working Xmas day but definitely all of nye/d.

[MrsDavidBowie]

I work for a charity and get 4 weeks off at Christmas. Far too long.
Remember when I was a retail manager and got one day off.
Sublime to the ridiculous.

[Ragwort]

I've worked on Christmas day (hospitality and caring jobs) and really don't mind . In fact the best Christmas days I have had have been volunteering at lunches for old folks. Perhaps I am getting old myself (mid 50s) but I honestly find the over indulgence of materialism and food a bit much these days . I love going to Church and the spiritual side of Christmas but have to plaster a huge grin on my face at all the other 'festivities'.

[Lally112]

I work in agriculture so I can be 'off' but on call should some little fucker decide to let the bull loose in the field. DH is in the police and often has to rotate xmas and new year.

[Lonecatwithkitten]

A vet doing emergency out of hours I work alternate 8.30am Christmas Eve to 8.30 am Boxing Day with 8.30a, New Year's Eve to 5pm 2nd Jan.
Though the year as Christmas Day is a Thursday I am on call 8.30am Christmas Eve to 8.30 am Boxing Day and then 8.30 am on 27th ( which will be a really busy day experience tells me) to 5pm on the 29th when I will collapse in a small heap.
Before anyone asks we are exempt from working time directive as we provide 24/7 emergency service.

[SeattleGraceMercyDeath]

Am laughing at Christmas being 'exceptionally important', whereas the rest of the plebs couldn't give two hoots about being with our families or waking up with our kids on Christmas Day. How selfish! If you work in an industry that provides cover at Christmas I'm afraid you have to suck it up sometimes. This is my first Christmas in 8 years off as a midwife, I've been granted a weeks annual leave and I'm so excited I could just expire already! Having said that, I knew working Christmas was part of the deal so I try and choose the most palatable option for me and my family (for us it's me working Christmas Eve night and NYE night shift) I'm glad my colleagues don't have the attitude that their Christmas is more important than mine.

[bloodyteenagers]

Yes. The school is closed for 2 weeks. It's about the only holiday where I get it fully off.

DP works in catering, so depends on the business if open or not on Christmas Day. For the past few years he worked in the same place, and it was all rota'd as alternate years. Last year was his turn. Couple days before head chef decided he was going to be off again. Would have screwed up everyone else for christmas, boxing day, nye and nyd because all these have the same alternate, but different staff iyswim... So anyway, quiet a few of them quit. Bit more to it, but this was the straw. Yes some Muslim, some single, people who didn't celebrate, but still didn't mean wanted to work.

[MabliHeulwen]

Retail/pharmacy. So no holiday allowed at all in November or December and we are only closed Christmas day. Luckily for me I'm part time now and this year my shifts fall so that I'm off Christmas eve, day and boxing day . DH works for a university and is off from the 24th-2nd, although oddly the attached nursery that DD attends closes a day earlier so he always has to beg leave if I'm in work on the 23rd.

[Caramelkate]

I'm a foster carer and usually on call for emergency placements from Xmas eve to 2nd Jan. so not much alcohol, but it's my job to have a fab christmas for the children in placement ( and be able to pull one out of fresh air for any new placements). Sadly it's a really busy time of year. Financial pressures, alcohol, and extended family issues mean crises for lots of families, but it's also lovely to be able to bring a bit of magic into the bleak lives of some children.

[lecherrs]

DH and I both get two weeks off for Christmas.
I teach and DH is a university administrator.

[bumasbigasthetv]

Medical secretary. We get Christmas day, boxing day and new years day off.

[Humansatnav]

I now work on Administration and have 24th dec to 2nd of Jan off, but my past job as a carer Ive worked Xmas day ( not too bad ) and a Xmas night ( horrendous )

[choirmumoftwo]

Nurse but in a role where we do office hours so always get the bank holidays and weekends off. I also have wednesday as my day off so have fallen really lucky this year with a 5 day christma break!