Comments on: Why You Should Shut Down Between Christmas and New Year’s

By: Kelly

Kelly — Mon, 24 Dec 2018 05:39:24 +0000

I work in higher education and because campus doesn’t completely shut down between Xmas and New Year’s, it’s up to each manager/director or department head if they want to stay open during the short week.

My boss chose to keep our area open, because she feels we will get more than a handful of public visitors. Two other areas in our division shut down last year and again this year, due to most of the staff having to travel for the holiday and not having any student workers available.

I got the week off because I had vacation I needed to use, which was intentional on my part. I wanted the time off and would have lost some of it if I hadn’t been able to use it. I’m still carrying over a decent amount into next year and probably won’t have to work the weeks of Xmas and Thanksgiving next year for the same reason. I’m pleased with that possibly happening because I’ve had to work the last several years the day before Thanksgiving and have to deal with heavier than normal traffic. I’ve also had to work the last couple years right after Xmas, so it’s going to be great getting a full week off.

My boss isn’t going to be happy when she comes back on Wednesday. She had denied another person time off after Xmas due to both staffing and because said person had gotten the time off last year. The person had gotten the two days off before Thanksgiving, so it would have been fair for the same person to get time off before Thanksgiving and after Xmas. The person wasn’t happy to say the least. My other co-worker and i tried to reason with them that staying open between Xmas and New Year’s is just for one more year and once the boss retires in summer of 2020, then we’ll likely finally close during that week. Their solution was to challenge the boss’ decision in the boss’ presence and go behind the boss’ back to the boss’ boss. I’m shocked that they didn’t get written up for insubordination.

The person put themselves as out for Wednesday and Thursday, likely without the boss’ permission, once the boss was gone on vacation last week. The person’s annual review is in less than a month, so it’s not the best time to engage in an act of insubordination.

By: Jenny Boxer

Jenny Boxer — Sun, 23 Dec 2018 03:01:29 +0000

For small businesses, shutting down is expensive. If we required employees to use their vacation time, they’d be fried. As a parent, I resented schools shutting down for 3 weeks (plus a week at Thanksgiving, a spring break, and summer). “Those in education appreciate tine off.” Who doesn’t? But most Americans don’t get a fraction of the time off of those who are in that field. We can’t take 4-6 weeks off, plus summers, and suffer the additional child care cost.

By: Annoyed in Ohio

Annoyed in Ohio — Fri, 21 Dec 2018 13:03:24 +0000

In reply to Another Anonymous. I can imagine and feel your bitterness, as our boss announced that she's going on a trip during the period that no one is allowed to take off *hard eye roll*

By: Another Anonymous

Another Anonymous — Fri, 21 Dec 2018 02:43:23 +0000

In reply to MariaRose. I just wanted to take the week of Christmas as vacation, and was told we had too much work to do. I don’t work in IT or payroll. So I’m working next week, but you can guess how hard I will be working, especially since my boss IS off the whole week. #bitter

By: MariaRose

MariaRose — Wed, 19 Dec 2018 22:14:33 +0000

Great idea if the business is like the article states an office based business that is typically slow at this time period. But it only works if everyone gets the time off, including IT personnel and payroll individuals, otherwise that time off, is a biased against specific jobs.
The only personnel who get to fully enjoy this time off are those who work the jobs that aren’t needed 24/7, 365. Funny how those who get all these extra paid time off also get to work less than 1500 hours yearly at high salaries.

By: MD

MD — Wed, 19 Dec 2018 20:23:05 +0000

This is great if you aren’t in accounting or payroll! I’ve always had to work over these days because people need to be paid and quarter/year end needs to be done. While it’s a great benefit to offer, remember it’s not feasible for all employees.

By: ScubagirlKelley

ScubagirlKelley — Wed, 19 Dec 2018 18:08:55 +0000

The nice thing about the company being shut down, vs taking the time as vacation time, is that you don’t have to worry about what’s going on at the office while you’re out. My company did this the last couple of years (as ADDED time off) and the employees really appreciated it.

By: William Corley

William Corley — Wed, 19 Dec 2018 18:06:19 +0000

While this sounds great as extra time off it is costly to the business, basically a 2% increase in expense. People should schedule vacation time during this period, yes of course many businesses are only partially operating.
In our competitive business world , I have over the years thought of this “week” as “competitive advantage ” time , meaning for those working they can clean up my files, emails, project documents and close off one year and begin the new year clean. Doing this clean up all during the holiday week , sets the business up to hit the ground running in the New Year and not lose another week in the New Year due to drag from the previous year.
The holiday week is a week where for those who choose to utilize it can for the most part accomplish much more , because the pace is slower , there are less interruptions and folks can focus.
One week can easily become two or more. Vacation time is much more enjoyable during the busier times of the year.

By: Phil

Phil — Wed, 19 Dec 2018 17:16:16 +0000

I was for many years in the record business and the entire industry down between Christmas and New Year’s with pay. It was great.

By: Elizabeth West

Elizabeth West — Wed, 19 Dec 2018 16:12:11 +0000

Most small businesses I’ve worked for don’t do this. It’s especially tough when Christmas is on a weekday. You work Christmas Eve until 5 pm and then you’re back in the office the day after. If you have to drive anywhere or fly, it’s not feasible. 🙁