Wrapping up for Christmas or Business as Usual?

It’s that time of year, when the parties, work and personal life are starting to fill our diaries and the weeks since the last public holiday have seemed endless but now finally there is a break in sight… Or is there?

Many industries traditionally took the days between Christmas and New Year off entirely, no apologies, no skeleton staff rotas, simply a close down because it just wasn’t worth getting everybody in to do very little. The demand just wasn’t there. Yes, their employees can enjoy the time off and celebrate another year ending but did they have their annual leave set out for them? Could four extra days have been taken in the August sunshine, rather than having to take it when your employer tells you to? Do they have enough family to be with over several days at Christmas?  It’s hard to get right because of course one size doesn’t fit all!

Unfortunately, a lot of our working population now doesn't experience the company shutdown, the demand is there and there is money to be made all year round. So are we simply putting greed or perhaps currently dire need, in front of traditional family values? Of course there are sectors, like health, emergency services and other ‘key’ work that can’t come to a halt (and we probably do assume those employees must have known and are therefore OK with not having a guaranteed break at Christmas) and as we all know retail is business as usual as early as Boxing Day! The (work) break at Christmas is what keeps me going from about September. It’s never restful but it’s a clear mark in the sand (or let’s say snow for this seasonal purpose) where the alarm can be turned off and it’s OK to have a Bailey’s and a mince pie for breakfast. I love it!

Of course not everybody does love it or even observes Christmas. Some don’t have loved ones to meet up with and those that do, may actually prefer to head back to the office after the obligatory 25th and 26th. I know that I have always had the freedom to choose when I take my annual leave and if I have beaten colleagues to get the days over Christmas, because a presence is required, there is an element of guilt assuming they would want that time, but they may have preferred not to.

Do you have to save annual leave for the break? Does your company tell you those days are an added benefit? Or would you prefer to be able to work the entire time? Whatever your preference, we hope you get it this Christmas!