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How long do people celebrate christmas?

December 21st, 2007 at 06:04 pm

I have already given out paychecks this morning. The framing crew decided at 11:30 that they would knock off work and not come back to work until Wednesday morning.
Everyone I know thinks that we are rich. My husband has worked 7 days a week for as long as I have known him. He generally takes Christmas day off. He works the rest of the time.
My framing crew workers can barely pay their bills, I know some get food stamps. But they can afford to take off 4 1/2 days to celebrate christmas??

I am not complaining,if you can afford it, do it!! My dh has never ever had a paid holiday, so he works!!

Gosh, I sound like a scrooge, don't I? I have to realize that I am married to a workaholic!! That is one reason I have been able to save money as well as I have.

13 Responses to “How long do people celebrate christmas?”

  1. Caoineag Says:
    1198261327

    You are definitely married to a workaholic (as a workaholic myself, I don't tend to judge on that score, lol). The issue is probably that they want to spend time with family. I know a lot of family get togethers eat up lots of time. Some people feel that these get togethers are more important than money.

    I have 11 days off in a row. I was going to come in during that time even though the office is closed but my bosses staged an intervention so now I am taking off all of the time I am supposed to (no I don't get paid for overtime, I am salaried).

  2. disneysteve Says:
    1198261681

    I tend to agree that it is a priority issue. I get paid hourly, but I will still take off to attend some event at my daughter's school or in observance of a religious holiday or for some other family function even though doing so may cost me hundreds of dollars in lost wages. Of course, I'm not having any trouble paying the bills. If I were, I'd probably reconsider that time off.

    As for Christmas, we will close early on Monday and be closed on Tuesday and back to regular hours on Wednesday. Same for the following week with New Years. If it were up to me, Monday would be a full day, but that's only because I don't celebrate Christmas.

  3. Aleta Says:
    1198263689

    There are alot of people that choose to take that time off as their vacation. (Unpaid of course). As long as you don't have to pay them for days that they aren't there; that is their loss. My husband also works alot of days like yours but when our kids come in, he slows down to spend that time with them. Sometimes there's not a whole lot going on.

    Our biggest day is the 24th. We have a very large dinner that night and open presents. So, to work on that day would be difficult for us not to mention how many last minute shoppers there are on that day.

    My Xmas morning is normally peaceful with a lot of left overs and visiting different people.

  4. gruntina Says:
    1198264509

    young children and students are off from school for at least a week during this time. Some parents stay home to spend time with them. In some cases, some can not afford daycare so they use up their vacation time off.

    Personally I preferr a balance between work and home life. A job is just a "job". I live to work and not work to live. But if finance is an issue, then something must be reconsidered.

  5. Joan.of.the.Arch Says:
    1198266031

    Live to work?
    Work to live?
    Living includes working, but what more?

  6. miclason Says:
    1198269452

    here the (local) government takes 1 week...private sector only the 25th and Jan 1st...some do close early on the 24th and 31st...I usually take a couple of days of my vacations from the 26...so I can rest FROM the holidays! LOL!

  7. madhaus90 Says:
    1198271040


    I think you're forgetting that two of the four days are weekend days. My DH's company only gives Christmas Day off and who in corporate America wants to be at work on Christmas Eve? I think that some people see family as more important than the paycheck. It isn't as if they are taking mid-week June off. It's the holidays!

  8. Ima saver Says:
    1198271818

    Oh, I understand that they all have reasons and family is a big part of it. We have no family, so we just spend the holidays together.
    Last week, the head of the crew asked us for a loan to pay his bills. If I could not pay my bills, I would not take off 4 1/2 days without pay. Sorry, that is just me!

  9. SicilyYoder Says:
    1198272214

    I am self-employed partly too- and then work as a merchandiser too- I am working everyday, if you count writing on my next novel and mailing books out.

  10. Nic Says:
    1198272789

    Our clinic will be closed from 3pm today and will not reopen until Wed.,the 26th. The clerical staff and the Dr. will be taking off. But, the other vet tech and I still have to work.
    I don't mind though, the Dr. gave us a hefty bonu$ for Christmas....Smile Smile

  11. Joan.of.the.Arch Says:
    1198284203

    Will you be losing money if they take off those days? I'm guessing they are hourly employees who you do not pay vacation time to. But maybe you have a time sensitive contract that will not work out right if the crew takes off four days, and you will lose money by being late on the contract? Maybe some incentive holiday overtime pay could have kept them at work a couple extra days?

    How many days a week do they usually work? Do they work all year, or do they have to piece together other employment? If the latter, maybe they have found temporary work on a project that pays more. Ex: I see truck trailors pulled up next to the Target store round the clock here. They hire extra people in these last few days before Christmas just to keep unloading the trucks. Seems to me that hard working, strong construction workers who are already accustomed to unloading are just the sort of workers Target would be happy to entice away from their regular jobs for a while.

  12. gruntina Says:
    1198341874

    I thought contractors and builders usually do not work on weekend? Something to do with the city noise regulation? If they normally dont work on weekends, then they are taking two days and half off.

  13. terri77 Says:
    1198471128

    I work plenty, but when it comes to holidays I want my time with loved ones.

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