Working On Christmas

[ginna74]

my dad and uncle worked in the mines and he often worked on christmas and thanksgiving. I always hated that and felt that we were missing out during those times. I am sorry you have to work.

 

[minkydog]

Well, as a nurse for the past 32 years I guess i've worked about 18 Christmases, 12 Thanksgivings and at least 20 New Years Eves. It's just part of the job. I'm a peds nurse and guess what? Kids get sick in the winter. They even get sick on holidays. Someone has to take care of them, might as well be me. I never minded working on those holidays. My family always found ways to work around it, even when the kids were little. And I can tell you that the family's of my little patients were more than grateful to have us there taking care of their kids. In fact, Christmas in the hospital is actually quite festive.

I would suggest that if working the holidays is going to be a deal breaker, maybe you need to work somewhere else.

 

[MouseketeerOvaHere]

, just teasing. I'm in health care so I work many holidays. Sucks at times but I'm thankful that I am fortunate enough to have a job in this economy. Just plan to celebrate around the hours you work. Celebrate the day before or after you return home. Think of the many service members who don't have the choice to be home for the holidays.

 

[Inigo]

I worked holidays when I worked for the US Postal Service---Christmas, Thanksgiving, Memorial Day, 4th of July, etc. I worked in one of the larger distribution centers, and there was always a full crew going on our shift except at Christmas. That night, it would be maybe 6-10 people in the whole building instead of the usual hundreds.

Fortunately, I worked Tour 1 (10:30 pm to 7:00 am) so I was able to go home and spend the day with family or go in after spending the day with family. I'd just be very tired. I got holiday pay, plus got paid for working, which ended up being 3X the regular hourly rate.

For the 4th of July, DH would bring the kids up, and park in the truck loading ramp area on top of the building. We'd have a bird's eye view of the fireworks and then I'd go in for my shift.

 

[CF'er]

Yes, I work in a hospital lab. We work 2 major holidays per year. This year mine is Christmas. We do get time and a half. I also have kids at home. We will either celebrate Christmas Eve or after I get home. It's a 6a-6p shift and I will do that Sat and Sun too.

 

[jenrose66]

I think it's sad that it has become so normal to work on holidays. I know it's just a day, but to a lot of people it's a special day and it's time that's meant to be spent with friends and family.

I understand that there are certain jobs (hopitals, police, and fire) where working holidays makes sense...but other businesses should just close.

I believe our turning into a 24/7 365 society is ruining family values and demoralizing to employees.

I work for an insurance claims call center. We NEVER close...yet all we do is set up claims...we can't give our insureds rental vehicles, we can't discuss if claims are covered or not...we are pretty much glorified note takers. So the claim handlers get holidays off, but the note takers don't.

I'm sorry, you don't need to call in a car accident on christmas day...it can wait.

I have off this year for christmas, but DH who works with me is scheduled to work. He will miss his son's first christmas.

 

[manning]

I was just informed by my boss that I have to work Christmas.. This SUCKS and my family is MAD. I was told that since I had Thanksgiving off(my normal day off any way) that it's not fair to the other office personal.. Well hopefully I hit the Powerballby then. Anyone else working?

You're lucky, you've got a job.

 

[RNMOM]

I also have worked many holidays over the years as a nurse. I too didn't mind too much because I knew I was not alone in having to work. Think of all the police/fire/medical personel who have to work as well. Then there are the folks in restaurants, though few are open, be greatful for those along major highways for the travelers. People in gas stations and on call for power/water/gas disruptions. There are a lot of us who do what we must so the world will continue to run smoothly. I know I missed a lot of professions that work 24/7.

I am not going to read all the way through to find out what kind of work you do but if you are sitting alone in the office and want to consider it, can you take the day without pay? Or as a vacation day? Just an idea.

One advantage to working the holiday, you often don't have to host the events or prepare food because you ARE working. That can be a bonus!

 

[robinb]

Just wanted to add...that LAST week the dh said he got to take off three days AFTER Xmas, FIRST time ever having off after (or before for that matter) and a co-worker, also management, said, he wanted those days (dh has seniority) to which the other boss said, well, then "ill just call in sick" which basically means IF he does call in sick the dh HAS to go to work as they HAVE to have someone in...now THAT will stink...it really is FIRST time the dh will be home after holiday to hang out with our ds, and he is now a TEEN! OH the drama,. the dh will be SO MAD if he is forced to work and thus forced to use days that are left in calender year, you cannot use following year...got my fingers crossed that the other guy does NOT call in sick........we shall see............

If your DH is forced to work can he be paid double (vacation and his regular days) or maybe work something out with his employer that he get comp days next year? It doesn't seem fair that he be forced to work and lose his vacation days at the same time!

 

[disneyfav4ever]

If your DH is forced to work can he be paid double (vacation and his regular days) or maybe work something out with his employer that he get comp days next year? It doesn't seem fair that he be forced to work and lose his vacation days at the same time!

Yeah, that's really not fair at all.

 

[Mandychelle79]

If your DH is forced to work can he be paid double (vacation and his regular days) or maybe work something out with his employer that he get comp days next year? It doesn't seem fair that he be forced to work and lose his vacation days at the same time!

If he is already scheduled off, i wouldnt answer the phone and leave a voicemail message stating due to the fact im off for the next three days, my family and I are out of town ( or something to that fact)

 

[clovergirl5]

I think it's sad that it has become so normal to work on holidays. I know it's just a day, but to a lot of people it's a special day and it's time that's meant to be spent with friends and family.

I understand that there are certain jobs (hopitals, police, and fire) where working holidays makes sense...but other businesses should just close.

I believe our turning into a 24/7 365 society is ruining family values and demoralizing to employees.
I work for an insurance claims call center. We NEVER close...yet all we do is set up claims...we can't give our insureds rental vehicles, we can't discuss if claims are covered or not...we are pretty much glorified note takers. So the claim handlers get holidays off, but the note takers don't.

I'm sorry, you don't need to call in a car accident on christmas day...it can wait.



I have off this year for christmas, but DH who works with me is scheduled to work. He will miss his son's first christmas.

I completely agree..well said.

 

[paintnolish]

OP- Of course you are lucky to have a job in this economy. Of course some people have to work on the holidays. BUT you still have the right to be unhappy about it and long to be with your family on the holidays!

 

[disneyfav4ever]

I believe our turning into a 24/7 365 society is ruining family values and demoralizing to employees.

I agree. There are a lot of places open regular hours that don't have to be. Like Blockbuster, no one needs to be able to rent movies on Christmas day.

 

[Rose&Mike]

OP- Of course you are lucky to have a job in this economy. Of course some people have to work on the holidays. BUT you still have the right to be unhappy about it and long to be with your family on the holidays!

Well said.

 

[BelleWDW]

My best friend's Dad had a job that required someone to be there 365 days a year-a specialized ship pilot in one of the USA's busiest ports.

He made a deal with others he worked for once she was born-for the first 8 years of her life he had Christmas day off-the next 8 years he worked it

 

[clovergirl5]

My best friend's Dad had a job that required someone to be there 365 days a year-a specialized ship pilot in one of the USA's busiest ports.

He made a deal with others he worked for once she was born-for the first 8 years of her life he had Christmas day off-the next 8 years he worked it

Aww, that makes me want to cry...dad wanted to be there for christmas with his little girl, how sweet of him to make a deal with fellow coworkers. How great that his work did that for him and they and he followed through with the deal.

 

[JoanGirardi]

I'm a med tech (work in a hospital lab) and my husband is a policeman, so we've always worked holidays---One of us or both of us is usually working. It always works out okay. When our kids were really little, we picked a time when we'd both be there and that's when Santa passed. He knew our work schedule, see, and knew when he need to make a special stop at our house. Now that the kids are older, whichever parent is working gets a phone call after or during the present opening. We've always managed to swap shifts or whatever so that one of us is home Christmas morning. I always hated it when I was single and people tried to guilt me into working because they had kids! I've never done that, and won't ever do it. We just try to make the best of things, and it works out.

 

[dollydell]

It always annoys me too when someone says that someone who is single, or married without kids should work for someone who does, chances are unless you are an orphan with no extended family and totally friendless you have someone who you want to spend Christmas with.

 

[C.Ann]

I agree. There are a lot of places open regular hours that don't have to be. Like Blockbuster, no one needs to be able to rent movies on Christmas day.

Well in all fairness, not everyone celebrates Christmas - based on their religion.. So I could see people wanting to rent a movie; go to a movie; go out to dinner; etc..

However - to the OP: Christmas has always been "the" most important holiday of the year to me.. So whenever I was job hunting in the past, having to work on Christmas was a deal breaker for me.. If it was required, I turned down the offer..

I know things are different now - with jobs being so far and few between - but since it doesn't sound like you're receiving the proper pay for even routine days (you mentioned less than minimum wage for PA - right?), I would make a very, very serious attempt to find employment elsewhere.. If nothing else, you should at least be receiving a fair wage.. If having holidays off is extremely important to you, try your hardest to find a position where employees aren't required to work on those days..

For this year, you'll just have to try to make the best of it..