Working during holidays

[Zlantann]

Some offices give employees time off during holidays, but others don't. Some even make employees come to work on Christmas Day or during other festive seasons.

For me, I don't think it's fair to make an employee work during holidays. I think it should be voluntary - if you want to come to work, you can, but if you don't, you can stay home and celebrate with your family and friends.

It's great to always treat workers in a way that reflects respect and empathy. Workers should be allowed to enjoy recognized holidays as they want and they should not be forced to work on these special days if they don't want. However, it will depend on the policies of the organisation. If the rule mandates workers to come to work even during holidays, they have to respect the law. Sometimes organizations usually offer special benefits to workers who want to work during these days.

Closing offices during holidays for like two weeks might affect business revenue, but how much?

You've been working from January to December, you should have sustainable investments and is it worth making employees miss out on time with their families and friends? I don't think so.

If you own an industry that produces important consumables like medical drugs or basic food, you will understand how important a day's work is. If you have ever worked on a farm, you will understand the importance of even an hour. Then if you work in a hospital you will know how important a minute is. There are some essential services or products that need workers everyday to function.

[Stepstowealth]

But what do you think about making someone's work mandatory during holidays?

Some companies compensate for lack of holidays with granting long work leave to their staffs or other kind of benefits or packages. Nothing really unfair about it since as someone about to get employed into a company, you will be made aware of the work condition for you to either consent to or reject. If as someone about to get employed in a company and you do not like the work conditions, refuse to take the job instead of accepting it and the choosing to complain about it.

[Doan9269]

Some offices give employees time off during holidays, but others don't. Some even make employees come to work on Christmas Day or during other festive seasons.

When signing to the terms and conditions attached to the work you're doing on your first day at work, all these would have been listed, that there could be times whereby they may request an extra service, shift or time from you to work with them in other to achieve a common  goal together with them, lets also be fair, at least during periods like that, the company or organization do offer us some extra reward as compensation for the time taken or extra hour service, in most cases I've witnessed.

[ChiBitCTy]

Some offices give employees time off during holidays, but others don't. Some even make employees come to work on Christmas Day or during other festive seasons.

For me, I don't think it's fair to make an employee work during holidays. I think it should be voluntary - if you want to come to work, you can, but if you don't, you can stay home and celebrate with your family and friends.

Giving employees official holidays during their festive seasons should be part of their benefit package. I say "their festive seasons" because Christians may want to celebrate Christmas, Muslims may want to celebrate Eid al-Fitr, and Hindus may want to celebrate Diwali.

This is also a way to promote diversity in the workplace. If Christians take Christmas off, Muslims and Hindus can work, and then when Muslims take Eid off, Christians and Hindus can work. This way, you can regulate your workforce and give employees the freedom to celebrate their holidays.

By doing this, you prioritize employees' satisfaction and well-being. This is why people don't leave jobs, they leave toxic work environments. When you make people feel comfortable and loved, they will stay, and it will increase productivity and mutual respect.

Closing offices during holidays for like two weeks might affect business revenue, but how much?

You've been working from January to December, you should have sustainable investments and is it worth making employees miss out on time with their families and friends? I don't think so.

But what do you think about making someone's work mandatory during holidays?

I think it entirely depends on your job. There’s going to be jobs where it’s necessary and when you took that job that was something that you would’ve known from the very beginning. For instance, if you work at a gas station, then you must know that if you do, you’re gonna have to work during some holiday holidays because people need gas at all times, so it really just depends. I am lucky enough where I get a limited vacation and don’t have to work through holidays, but yes, I do think more people in some situations should get more time off.

[HONDACD125]

I see nothing wrong if a company ask there employees to come to the work during holidays because if everybody decided to go for holidays how would the company survived because there are company that cannot shutdown for a minute do to the kind of operation they are doing so holidays are not something that would influenced them, however what I no that most companies normally do is that if the employee resumption of duty is during the holidays they would give them privileged to discuss with other coworkers that doesn't like those holidays to cover their weeks of work for them with the agreement that they would work twice than their supposed duration after they're back from the holidays.

There are public holidays on certain days and it's not the employee's responsibility to take care of the work during a public holiday or a festival that they celebrate. Still, it's the company's responsibility to make sure that they have back up to cover for the employees that would need holidays on certain days. As explained by OP, companies can hire people from different ethnicities and religious backgrounds so that if employees from one religion need to take a holiday, the other groups can cover for them, and vice versa.

Not allowing your employees to take any holiday only because your company can't go off at all is toxicity. A company should manage everything properly so that their employees aren't mentally tortured, and such companies will have face downfalls if they don't care about the well-being of their employees.

[bitzizzix]

I think it all depends on where you work, because I think there is no obligation for workers to work on big days like Eid al-Fitr, Christmas or other big days except for the security section. And usually for those who do not celebrate are required to come in if their work is important or needed, but for those who celebrate are given the right to take a day off or depending on whether they want to come in or not and even then they are charged overtime or receive daily wages that are many times greater. And I think big companies will be like that and it all depends on where you work, and if you do have an obligation to work on big days that should be holidays it depends on you and if it was in the company where I work I would look for another job that could accept my rights in terms of big days and so on but I don't work in a company like that.

[Richbased]

But what do you think about making someone's work mandatory during holidays?

Making someone's work mandatory during holidays depends on the agreement between the employer and the employees so if an employee chooses to adhere to the terms and condition of the establishment it's at their own detriment. Every organization has their modes of operation so if you don't like to work in those organizations that doesn't take holidays seriously and expects their workers to come to work, then you rather not work in such establishment. However, some of the reasons why some organization work during holidays may be because they experience more patronage during holiday periods because since a lot of people will be going for holidays, only few establishments are available to attend to customers when others must have gone for holidays.

[Jating]

I've done this before and I don't have any issues with that. But I guess it will be better if I don't, but if you think about the pay, then it's better for you instead of just lying down on holidays. It doesn't mean that I don't want to celebrate it with my family, but that is the main thing, you needed that work and pay in order for you to survived and bring food in the table for them.

I understand others too who want to be self-employed because they can control their schedules and then have a break during holidays. But for those who are working, I will say that they don't have a choice because the company will make it sure that you are well compensated as well working during holidays.

[Samlucky O]

But what do you think about making someone's work mandatory during holidays?

I think before everyone begins or resumes duty in a new place of work, or where they are newly employed, there are lay down procedure/ rules, regulations and  guidelines or a written memorandum of understanding between the company and the workers issued to the employee to know if they are compatible with it or not. So in this case most of the rules and regulations are included so as to know if they can be able to continue with them or not. So I will say it's a matter of choice whether to work In a company that works during holidays, or not. It is rear to even find company that works during holidays except for China construction company. Apart from that what I know is that any holiday work is mainly overtime which is base on choice.

[Lanatsa]

Closing offices during holidays for like two weeks might affect business revenue, but how much?

You've been working from January to December, you should have sustainable investments and is it worth making employees miss out on time with their families and friends? I don't think so.

But what do you think about making someone's work mandatory during holidays?

Usually this kind of set up or system will really be just that only happening on private sectors and not on the public or government ones here in our country on which if ever their duty day on points into a holiday season or having those red marks on calendar then people arent that needed or simply there's no duty or work with that date on government services or sectors but this is totally different if we do speak about into those private companies on which they will really be that wanting for their employees to have duty or need to work. If you've put up yourself on a good private company that compensates out that holiday duty or work then good for you because here in our country it do doubles pay up on that particular day and due to that having a hard life on living then you will definitely be that trying out to accept it out.

If these things turned out to be according into your will on having that duty then there's no issue but if this one turned out that forcing up yourself despite on not liking up such set-up then this kind of situation do really sucks. It would really be that up to you whether you will really be making yourself that sustain or last up with this kind of work or not but due on having that very hard time on seeking out for some job and thats why people doesnt really have any choice but to accept into the situation that they are in, on which this is really that indeed very sad on this case.

[Fortify]

Some offices give employees time off during holidays, but others don't. Some even make employees come to work on Christmas Day or during other festive seasons.

For me, I don't think it's fair to make an employee work during holidays. I think it should be voluntary - if you want to come to work, you can, but if you don't, you can stay home and celebrate with your family and friends.

Giving employees official holidays during their festive seasons should be part of their benefit package. I say "their festive seasons" because Christians may want to celebrate Christmas, Muslims may want to celebrate Eid al-Fitr, and Hindus may want to celebrate Diwali.

This is also a way to promote diversity in the workplace. If Christians take Christmas off, Muslims and Hindus can work, and then when Muslims take Eid off, Christians and Hindus can work. This way, you can regulate your workforce and give employees the freedom to celebrate their holidays.

By doing this, you prioritize employees' satisfaction and well-being. This is why people don't leave jobs, they leave toxic work environments. When you make people feel comfortable and loved, they will stay, and it will increase productivity and mutual respect.

Closing offices during holidays for like two weeks might affect business revenue, but how much?

You've been working from January to December, you should have sustainable investments and is it worth making employees miss out on time with their families and friends? I don't think so.

But what do you think about making someone's work mandatory during holidays?

This is completely unrealistic, at least in the way that you've posed it, and totally incompatible with the way the business actually works. You speak about Christmas as if it is a holiday isolated to religious Christmas - when it has completely morphed and detached from any religion at this point. More non religious people celebrate this in countries like the UK than religious followers. Also, the idea that a workplace somehow has an equal split of all religions is also completely off base and unrealistic - in my experience if a company has a large amount of religious followers of any kind, they will often be of one particular group and this rules out your "splitting the days" type setup. Companies are also very flexible around holidays and expect people to book time off but do not shut down completely.

[Felicity_Tide]

But what do you think about making someone's work mandatory during holidays?

Let me start by saying, people runs their business however they want because they feel that they're always doing what's best for the company or organization. If an employer demands that a worker must come to work even on festive periods that are meant to be holidays, then it means the demand is none negotiable maybe due to the agreement on ground from day one. Besides, there are some businesses that are very tight, and don't really have much workers, so getting a long festive break can be extremely difficult. So, this is why I don't see any problem when some business owners choose not to give holidays to their workers. The workers where never forced to take the job in the first place.

In as much as I encourage Entrepreneurship and working for oneself, the truth is, not every Entrepreneurer takes holiday. Running businesses isn't as simple as it looks in movies. Only business owners will understand what it truly takes to do this. So I think if an employer doesn't grant a break to his workers, then we have to consider the things in place because I believe every business owner would love to keep their business running for long.

[Stablexcoin]

Some offices give employees time off during holidays, but others don't. Some even make employees come to work on Christmas Day or during other festive seasons.

For me, I don't think it's fair to make an employee work during holidays. I think it should be voluntary - if you want to come to work, you can, but if you don't, you can stay home and celebrate with your family and friends.
But what do you think about making someone's work mandatory during holidays?

I will give you two solid reasons why employees get to work on the Christmas holiday. The first reason is that the contract which they signed requires them to work on festive seasons. Of which they agreed on when they were presented with the file. However, it all comes with a huge bonus from the company because working on that day means extra pay.

The second reason is the nature of the job. For persons working in the tech industry, they are more likely to work every day. Because they might be called at any time to fix a bug on a site or make a captivating design. In cybersecurity hackers could want to attack on the christman day but cyber security officers are always present to keep things up and running to avoid hackers in penetrating.

[uchegod-21]

Imagine that you are a business owner and your business is situated in an area which is dominated by Christians, during the Christmas celebration which is a Christian celebration, would you allow the Christians to work during this festive period or import Hindus or Muslims from other regions to work for you while the Christians go for holidays considering what it will cost you to get new employees within this short period?

What you discussed in the op is good, but it can only be achieved by the government and not some struggling private businesses. Not all businesses can be shut down for any reason, so it is only fair for the employer to give his employees some motivations to work during that period.

[STT]

Its a national holiday in most places hence illegal to force people to work those hours unless they choose.   As said some people may wish to have a different holiday due to religion etc. so it can be useful to be flexible and allow people to work or choose not to work but nobody should be forced.

   The problem with very small companies with limited capital they have no such flexibility easily available to them, they need those workers on that day hence the unreasonable demand to work regardless of any holiday in theory assigned.  I always valued this idea as the bonus money from working optionally was great to have, I was paid to give up that holiday and that is great if a country can afford these benefits for workers which is not the case everywhere.

[Accardo]

Not all companies do that, most firms end up business before the festive day and allow workers to go and enjoy their holidays. The few workplaces that work round the clock like Banks, hospital, security etc don't normally close down due to their crucial need in the society, some staff would work on shifts and cover each other so that everyone still spend a great holiday. Aside from these type of work mentioned above, all other business that seize the freedom of their workers from visiting home and seeing loved ones isn't helping the growth of the company. Because, after the holidays season is done, people come back energized, with fresh ideas and the zeal to work.

[Darker45]

It's unfair, but that's what it is. There are needs even during holidays. So, stores and shops remain open. Not all, but many will be open. Demand doesn't stop simply because it's a holiday. The same is true to hospitals, police stations, fire stations, and others. Accidents happen during holidays. Crimes happen during holidays. The life of a community goes on during holidays.

But there should be a higher compensation or a bonus for workers during the holidays. Also, there should be fair practices for this. Rotation system like if you're working on Christmas, it should be the one who took the day off who will work on New Year. Something like this should be put in place. Or those who are notorious latecomers aren't allowed to take the day off during Good Friday.

[Apocollapse]

First, it's mainly due to population and regulation. Second, it's due to the agreement.

If you live in an overpopulated and bad regulation country, most of the jobs would turn the employees to be slaves because the company can do anything they want.

But, if it's underpopulated and good regulation country, you will have a bargaining power.

However, it also depend whether you agree or not to work during festive holidays, hence read the contract twice, trust more the contract then what they said.

[dezoel]

For me, I don't think it's fair to make an employee work during holidays. I think it should be voluntary - if you want to come to work, you can, but if you don't, you can stay home and celebrate with your family and friends.

This opinion depends on the type of company; not all companies can be able to shut down even in a minute; if not, they will lose many things; their workers must be active every day and on time. So you can’t really force this type of company to give a holiday because they won’t; however, some companies don’t care whether their employees are happy working with them or not; as long as they are paying them, they don’t care. 

One example of it, would be the fast food and the mall. I rarely see them close though even on holidays. Maybe they will only close if there are renovations going on and the likes. Those who work there, still have their own rest days but it's just not all can have the same rest days because that could mean a closure for the company as well.

We are a bit unlucky if our days are pointed in the holidays but holidays are usually celebrated at night, so we still can be able to celebrate most of it once our shift ends at night. For those who are call centre agents, this isn't the case that happens though, as they are mostly have a graveyard shift. Maybe they can just celebrate in the morning instead. You know, do some strolling in the mall, concerts, etc..

[Cryptomultiplier]

...
But what do you think about making someone's work mandatory during holidays?

I like to believe that every kind of work has a certain kind of commitment and sacrifice that comes with it.
Some jobs may require no holidays because the workers are essential workers and their service is needed on a daily basis, else there would be a collapse in the systems. Jobs like healthcare or health workers, Telecom industry, aviation industry, electricity generation, and others may require shift time for its workers and there's no saying the number of workers available and on payroll, so there must be persons who would ensure there's no collapse in the national systems even during holidays, while others get to enjoy with their families.