I love Christmas but often despise the assumption that everyone is off work for a fortnight.
Fortunately I no longer regularly work Bank Holidays (often did), but I have quite a disconnect at times if I’m working days either side and can’t get leave.
There must be a vast number of people who just can’t assume they’ll get leave for these holiday periods when most people assume it’s the norm.
My wife is doc and works Boxing Day.
Indeed Alley_Cat
One of my nephews and his partner are in hospitality ( he owns a bar and she works in restaurants)
No such break for them at all along with such like people
My ex door neighbour is head of emergency ward in major hospital here in Sydney - can you imagine what’s that’s like
Here’s a big call out for all those that are working over the Xmas/New year break including nurses , police etc etc keeping us safe
This!
I think it’s just all the over the top advertising that bugs me these days.
What is this “work” thing you speak of? 
Can’t be arsed with your patronising comment, unless I’ve taken it the wrong way.
Just think of all the people who for years/decades in all employment spheres can’t get the relaxed week or two that others take for granted.
Would also add I’m talking from a UK perspective and appreciate US leave is more stringent.
Apologies for my reactive response, it’s just something that’s on my mind as the kids choose their career paths.
Oh, jeez. Go have a drink and relax. It was tongue-in-cheek. Do you have no sense of humor at all?
I worked my ass off for many decades until I retired earlier this year and I never got more than four weeks of time off in any year. I’ve earned what I have now. My wife is a health care worker – still on the job, so she has to work often on holidays, and as a RRT she was front line and put herself in danger every shift during covid. But she’s not bitter I retired and talk about it.
Shows the problem with internet/forum posts - sometimes you just don’t get the context of the reply
That’s fantastic. Similar sphere but I’m a bit bitter about certain things in hindsight for me personally. Hard to explain without going onto details 
This post has also probably come off a pretty annoying food shop which I could have well done without!
OK, sorry if I rubbed you the wrong way. It was meant as harmless fun. I appreciate that people have to work, and when I had to work I was happy for those that retired, knowing I would get there too. My wife plans to retire mid-2025 but until then she works 12 hours shifts every Friday, Saturday and Sunday. 
No, my apologies to you. I took it the wrong way. Sorry.
How does your wife find 12 hour shifts? Much easier when you’re younger and can maybe get a standard week’s work done in 3 days, these seem to be getting more common here in healthcare.
I don’t like the festive season,
Forced celebration,
Was More than happy to work over Xmas in the past,
I’m a GRINGE and love it,
also while you are celebrating think how domestic violence goes up,
As well as suicide’s this time of year,
Enjoy your Xmas
Appreciate where you’re coming from.
More later…
That’s all she knows is 12 hours shifts. She’s always done them. The reason she is working Fri-Sun now (it’s called Weekend Option) is that she gets paid extra per hour. Otherwise, her shifts would vary between weekdays and weekend days, with no more than two days in a row. She’s doing that now as a last push towards retirement, so that we can wait longer to start drawing on investments for expenses, and still enjoy discretionary spending.
I’m working no hours at all and just collection Social Security from the government (which isn’t all that much but helps). But by the time she retires sometime this summer, we’ll be in great shape to enjoy the years we have left (hopefully decades together).
I despise the assumption that everyone wishes it could be Christmas every day
I used to swap shifts so I could work Christmas day, Boxing day etc. It was loadsamoney. And then have time off work when it wasnt cold, wet and miserable.
There are so many personal factors in all of these things. Enhanced pay rates are obviously appealing (if they apply), but personal/family time is also very precious at certain stages.
To be honest, I’m an atheist. My perspective of the XMas season is rather negative, for various reasons (including motorists become really ugly in temperament, especially against us cyclists).
My wife’s family celebrates, so I’m a good sport and play along, but I could personally do without the whole thing.
I find Christmas very melancholic since my wife of 55 years passed 2 years ago… Memories, good but bitter-sweet.
Does anyone other than a teacher have two weeks off automatically? When I was working I never had entitlement to more than the bank holidays, having to use annual leave if I wanted more, and having to liaise with colleagues to ensure that at least a skeleton staff was in, effectively taking it in turns to take off additional time. And often challenging for both my wife and myself to have sufficient coincident time off to travel to visit family. It was easiest when I worked with some individuals who didn’t like Christmas and preferred to work. When we could manage it the opportunity for close family connections, relaxing and partaking of gift-giving, and also an opportunity for shared food, and enjoyment of certain traditions, have been highly prized by all.