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Original poster

Working over Christmas

92 replies

Chronicallyknackered · 18/12/2024 19:05

I see so many posts about two weeks off at Christmas, how many people is this a reality for ? And how many people have to continue to work as usual ?
I work in a hospital, and feel fortunate that I don't work Christmas/ boxing day unlike clinical colleagues who have no choice. Our patients live with us 365days year, many without leave, so staff are needed as usual.
Family members have said they feel sorry for me working up until Christmas Eve, and after boxing day.
Is that not reality now that a lot of employers expect you to work over Christmas, not off to relax for a fortnight ?

OP posts:
YouMeandBrie · 18/12/2024 22:52

Emergency services, working until early hours Christmas Eve but off for the day itself and Boxing Day unless Something Happens and I end up having to stay on.

In my previous, office based role I’d usually have a week off for Christmas.

Anon9898 · 18/12/2024 23:13

I'm working boxing day. I work in a care home and out new receptionist said she would do Christmas eve and Christmas day. So I get an extra day off. So working 23rd, 26 and 27

MrsMoastyToasty · 19/12/2024 00:18

I work in a desk based role. I finished today due to a mixture of non working days (I'm part time), flexitime, bank holidays, annual leave and weekends.
I used to work in the control room of a water company so was either due to work/on call at some point over any UK bank holiday. I actually opted to work the May and August bank holidays and use the time and accrued leave to go away at quieter times of the year.

CharlotteStreetW1 · 19/12/2024 13:12

I've worked in offices most of my working life (42 years straight through) and in all that time, apart from a decade of being self-employed and running a village shop and PO, I've only had one job where the firm wasn't closed between Christmas and New Year. Also I've never had to use annual leave for it.

So it's actually a reality for many people

Doyouthinktheyknow · 19/12/2024 13:19

I’ve never had more than the bank holidays off and that was because I had a management job.

I’m back to patient facing now so only have Christmas Day and Boxing Day off this year. That is only thanks to the goodwill of my new manager because I lost my brother this year. I will be working Christmas next year. It’s never really bothered me, I’ve worked so many festive periods.

AndSoItBeginsAtLeast · 19/12/2024 13:59

I work in Law in an office - our last day is the 23rd and we are back in on the 2nd. We are always shut over Christmas period. We give 1.5 days of A/L and the firm give the rest.

MothralovesGojira · 19/12/2024 15:12

I work in retail so only get CD, BD & NYD guaranteed off as the shop is closed on those days. I won't get next weeks rota until Saturday so if I'm working the day after BD I will have to cancel a family visit that's already been arranged and will have to get someone to pick up my food order on Christmas Eve if I'm put in to work on that day. My manager tries to be fair so will try to give us one or the other but we can't pick which to work and it doesn't always work out fairly. The bloody unfair thing is that the head office staff get the whole week off with one admin person covering emergencies (allegedly) from their home each day (for the whole bloody country & 500+ shops) so the system never works as we've found to our cost in previous years when we've actually had proper emergencies like flooding and break ins etc. HO will finish on Monday and won't return until 2nd January but won't be properly back until Monday 6th after which they'll whine that they can't do stuff because they're behind with regular work.

MyStylish40s · 19/12/2024 15:18

I work in a school. We finish tomorrow tomorrow until January 6th.

DH will be back a couple of days after Christmas, and off again for a day or 2 around NYE. I honestly can’t remember.

My mum (midwife) often worked Christmas Eve and or day when I was growing up. I still remember the feeling of sadness we felt.

booisbooming · 19/12/2024 15:56

More often than not in charities and similar organisations I've been given the days between Christmas and new year, so you can usually easily make it into 2 weeks with 3-ish days of annual leave. When I worked for a university we got a whole week off and an Easter week off too!

sweatband · 20/12/2024 21:37

I'm an office manager and I'm working right up to Christmas Eve, then between Christmas and new year, in an office which will be virtually empty,
Not even sure why we are open as everyone else works remotely

ilovepixie · 20/12/2024 22:01

I wouldn't want loads of time off over Christmas. I'd rather take my annual leave when I want it, rather than when I'm told to take it.

Windypinecones · 20/12/2024 22:45

I finished today and will go back on the 7th Jan. It's not mandated that we have to take it off, and in fact if we wanted we could even work the BH and take those days at another time. But I fancy the break and with no one else working there wouldn't be enough for me to do for 2 whole weeks.

reujkd · 21/12/2024 08:06

I wouldn't want loads of time off over Christmas. I'd rather take my annual leave when I want it, rather than when I'm told to take it.

There are 3 reasons I love taking time off this time of year over the rest of the year so I make sure I prioritise taking 2 weeks, I've only started doing this in the last few years.

  1. most other people in my office take it off as well so it's the one time of year I can take a chunk of time off and not come back to a mailbox of chaos

  2. it's the one time of year I feel no pressure to "get out and about" and do things with the kids, it's a guilt free self indulgent 2 weeks of just switching off, watching tv, no plans. It feels like our own mini Covid lockdown (the good parts!)

  3. I can get a big chunk of time off for using a relatively small amount of leave, it's the only time of the year I take 2 weeks off to ensure I have enough leave for regular breaks for the school holidays so it feels like a total reset.

Bornonasday · 21/12/2024 08:12

Office work here and I’m off from 20th December - 6th Jan.

Pretty standard, Iv had 2 weeks of for Xmas for well over 10 years.

Bornonasday · 21/12/2024 08:12

ilovepixie · 20/12/2024 22:01

I wouldn't want loads of time off over Christmas. I'd rather take my annual leave when I want it, rather than when I'm told to take it.

I don’t get told I have to have it over Xmas. It’s my choice.

Lemonade2011 · 24/12/2024 11:36

NHS so worked wards for 18 years then community so clinics still open bar 25/26 then 1/2 Jan so I’m still working Monday and Friday both weeks. I’m taking them off next year as I did last year so want to take some time instead of thinking about work. Not sure I’d want the full 2 weeks though. I hope everyone working has a safe and good few shifts and enjoys time with family when you get it

caringcarer · 24/12/2024 14:36

Thank you to all those working over Xmas to make everyone else's Xmas go smoothly especially those on NHS.

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