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As many office workers look forward to a long break over the Christmas Period, it’s important to remember that not everyone will be enjoying a long, relaxing break – and some of them even enjoy working!
Nearly half (44%) of UK professionals will be working over Christmas according to new research from the UK’s leading independent job site CV-Library, and of this figure, a third (35.3%) state that they actually enjoy working over the festive period.
The research, which surveyed over 1,100 UK workers, found that the majority of employees (70.6%) think that office-based businesses should be closed over Christmas, with workers giving the following responses when asked what the best and worst things about working over this period were:
The Best Part About Working Over Christmas
A more relaxed working environment (38.3%)
Christmas bonuses (29.3%)
Flexible working hours (26.1%)
Christmas music played in the workplace (24%)
A more casual / festive dress code (22.3%)
Jolly customers (21.9%)
Staff Christmas social events (18.6%)
Secret Santa with colleagues (16.8%)
The Worst Part About Working Over Christmas
Missing out on time with family (76.1%)
There’s little to do as work is quiet (25.4%)
Working longer hours (19.3%)
Irritable / stressed customers and clients (18.6%)
Having to listen to Christmas songs (15.6%)
Missing out on Christmas parties (13.3%)
Being made to wear festive clothing (6.4%)
Having to train temporary Christmas staff
Lee Biggins, founder and managing director of CV-Library, comments:
“While having to work over Christmas can be frustrating for employees; the reality is that many businesses offer services which can’t come to a halt. Understanding what your workers most and least like about working during the festive period is important and you should try to shape your policies around this. For example; why not make the workplace a bit more fun by organising team events, implementing more flexible working hours, or allowing staff to wear Christmas jumpers. It’s clearly not everyone’s cup of tea, but giving the option can go a long way to making an employee feel more positive about spending their Christmas at work.”
Furthermore, the research found that many organisations across the UK are not giving back to their Christmas workers, with 86.9% stating that their company does not offer any sort of incentives for working over the festive period and a further 76% stating that their employer does not offer perks such as a bonus. That said, of those that did receive incentives, these included: time off in lieu, Christmas food and double pay.
Biggins continues:
“In an ideal world, businesses should be rewarding staff for taking time away from their family to work over Christmas. Whether that’s letting them leave a few hours earlier, or giving the time back in the following months, these efforts should be made to show you appreciate your dedicated employees.”
