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    « The Best Christmas Song Ever | Main | HR Carnival - Holiday Time »
    Thursday
    Dec242009

    The Sham of Working on Christmas Eve

    If you are sitting in your office reading this post today I have two things to say to you:

    One - Thanks for reading, I love and appreciate all my readers, hopefully your received your packages of cookies and fudge

    Two - Quit goofing off on the internet and get back to work!

    Seriously, unless you are a police officer, firefighter, work in a hospital, or are standing behind a cash register today, 'working' on Christmas Eve is a total sham.

    For the typical office, information, or 'knowledge' worker forced to trudge in to the office on Christmas Eve almost no 'real' work will get done, they will be forced to stand around a box of holiday frosted Dunkin' Donuts making awkward small talk with their co-workers, and either watching the clock or waiting with breathless anticipation for the manager/boss/VP to graciously let them leave early at 2 or 3 pm.

    And most people that celebrate Christmas still have a million things to do on Christmas Eve, from shopping, to arranging child care (you know the teachers aren't working on Christmas Eve), to traveling or dealing with incoming relatives, and on and on.

    I know what you are saying - just take a vacation day then if you are so busy. Flickr - Daniel Slaughter

    But most people hate taking a vacation day on Christmas Eve because they know it is not a 'real' day. People will dress casually (or in hideous holiday sweaters), come in later, have a long lunch, and normally leave early.  Why burn a precious vacation day that can be saved for July, when the sun it out and you can actually really feel superior to the rest of the idiots stuck working.

    Yep, Christmas Eve and work.  No one who is actually there wants to be there and hardly anything will get done.  And the people who are not there are secretly pissed that they are missing the 'free' day to watch their kids, bake cookies,  or drive 14 hours through the snow to Kansas City.

    Do yourself and your workplace a favor, if you are not in the life-saving or trinket-selling business just shut it down on Christmas Eve.

    You will make everyone happy. 

    Except possibly for the people that live to wear their holiday sweaters.

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    Reader Comments (12)

    I guess as a non-exempt employee, I appreciate being able to come in and earn some money today. I'd have to use some of my scant (due to having just started accruing PTO a month and a half ago) vacation time if I didn't come in. But most people aren't here, which will actually help me get more done. :)

    I know some companies just make it a paid holiday for everyone and are done with it. I think that's probably the best way to handle it, when it's feasible.

    December 24, 2009 | Unregistered CommenterTim

    It is a day off for us today except for the few people that volunteer to keep the last minute consumer orders shipping. Those volunteers get a floating pto day in 2010. I love that setup so a non exempt person or new employee doesn't have to burn the July PTO day. But totally good points as always Steve!

    December 24, 2009 | Unregistered CommenterTroy

    @Tim - I totally understand that point of view, especially in situations where you can make time and a half (or more) by working on the holidays. I am being a bit of a wise guy for sure, but for the average office environment Christmas Eve has to be the least productive day of the year.

    @Troy - Thanks for sharing that plan. It makes a ton of sense, not everyone celebrates or has lots of errands, etc, so a volunteer plan is a great idea.

    December 24, 2009 | Registered CommenterSteve

    I work holidays as well, but I'm a restaurant person! I WISH we could shut down on xmas eve!! I know the staff would appreciate it!

    December 24, 2009 | Unregistered CommenterSrah Klein

    Shuttin' it down, Steve. Shuttin' it down.

    No, I don't have that sweater. Really.

    Merry Christmas!

    December 24, 2009 | Unregistered CommenterKevin W. Grossman

    Ummm... My cookies and fudge haven't arrived yet, so you may want to stay on the job long enough to call FedX to see what's up.

    December 24, 2009 | Unregistered CommenterJennifer McClure

    Spot on Dude! The rumor mill says we are being released at 2pm today so no way I am going to waste a vacation day. The good news is I am working from home so I don't have to trudge into the office and annoy everyone with my holiday sweater.

    December 24, 2009 | Unregistered CommenterMichael Krupa

    @Sarah - Thanks for representing the restaurant workers! Without you more of us lazy slackers would actually have to cook on the holidays!

    @Kevin - C'mon, you know you have at least one of those sweaters! Merry Christmas!

    @Jennifer - Dang, my shipping department let me down again! I am glad they did not get a Holiday Bonus this year.

    @Michael - Thanks pal. You are living the dream!

    December 25, 2009 | Registered CommenterSteve

    U are Looking good in this Pic Steve,

    December 27, 2009 | Unregistered CommenterEssays

    Essays - That actually is not me, but thanks anyway!

    December 27, 2009 | Registered CommenterSteve

    Steve-
    Casual dress, goofing off, xmas cookies, and an early quit.... what's not to like? I feel bad for the workers that don't have a choice, but for the ones that do, they don't seem to mind. This was the first xmas eve i've worked in a while and I think I'll do it again next year.
    Hope you're enjoying your holidays!

    December 28, 2009 | Unregistered CommenterDan McCarthy

    @Dan - Thanks very much. I get that it is a 'easy' and fun kind of day, but I always had the feeling that everyone was really wishing/needing to be somewhere else. It could be just my own view of course. Thanks and I hope you are enjoying the holidays as well.

    December 28, 2009 | Registered CommenterSteve

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