Holiday Work?

meownsmile, BSN, RN · Oct 18, 2005

Just because you dont celebrate certain holidays doesnt mean you dont want to spend time with your family.

If they are scheduled the holiday that they observe let them work it, because unfortunately, most will take advantage and when the time comes for you to want them to return the favor for whatever reason,, they wont be able to. Trust me,, thats the way it works.

Altra, BSN, RN · Oct 18, 2005

If they are scheduled the holiday that they observe let them work it, because unfortunately, most will take advantage and when the time comes for you to want them to return the favor for whatever reason,, they wont be able to. Trust me,, thats the way it works.

I must respectfully disagree. If your days of observance, religious or otherwise, differ from other co-workers, this can work to everyone's advantage. If say, Christmas isn't important to you, but another day is, then maybe I'm missing something but wouldn't it be ideal for you to work Christmas and have off another day?

Also, at my hospital, if you work on any one of the 7 major holidays (Christmas Day, New Years Day, Thanksgiving, Memorial Day, Labor Day, July 4, Easter) you take your "holiday" day w/pay within 2-3 weeks before or after the actual day, so everyone gets a day w/holiday pay regardless of whether they work on the actual day the holiday is observed.

juvynurse · Oct 18, 2005

Due to religious convictions, I do not celebrate many holidays including Christmas and Easter. My question is, if fellow co-workers were to find this out, would many of them be wanting to trade off with them?

My guess is they probably would want to trade off because they, more than likely, do celebrate these holidays due to their religious convictions.

Many moons ago when I first became a nurse, the older nurses would trade off holidays with me either because of their religious convictions or just because, long ago, this act of kindness was bestowed upon them, and that allowed me to spend the holidays with my small children and husband.

Now that my kids are grown, I don't mind passing along the goodwill. None of us mind celebrating the holidays when I get home.

It gives that one young nurse a chance to watch her baby open its Christmas presents.

prmenrs, RN · Oct 18, 2005

It should work that folks take turns, but sometimes it doesn't. I did have one friend that would work every winter holiday they had--Thanksgiving, X-mas, NY Day. His wife was a nurse and did the same thing. No kids. He got paid time and 1/2, earned Comp time, so after the holidays, they both took off for their annual ski trip on the $ and the time off they'd saved.

I wasn't scheduled one year (it wasn't my turn, either), but another nurse put up a note saying she'd pay $350 (in addition to the comp time and time and 1/2, plus shift diff) for someone to work X-mas Eve for here. I took it in a heartbeat!!

sjrn85 · Oct 18, 2005

Hello, I'm a nursing student who has been reading various threads about working holidays. Due to religious convictions, I do not celebrate many holidays including Christmas and Easter. My question is, if fellow co-workers were to find this out, would many of them be wanting to trade off with them?

I don't observe holidays, either, but I got burned at several places because people automatically assumed that I would always be willing to work for them. I started taking my holidays so I could be with friends who were also off.

My guess is when your colleagues find out (and they will), you'll be bombarded with people wanting you to work, and you'll be in for some harsh words from some if you decide to take the holiday. Just remember that you owe no one an explanation for what you do/don't do on a holiday.

sjrn85 · Oct 18, 2005

I must respectfully disagree. If your days of observance, religious or otherwise, differ from other co-workers, this can work to everyone's advantage. If say, Christmas isn't important to you, but another day is, then maybe I'm missing something but wouldn't it be ideal for you to work Christmas and have off another day?
Also, at my hospital, if you work on any one of the 7 major holidays (Christmas Day, New Years Day, Thanksgiving, Memorial Day, Labor Day, July 4, Easter) you take your "holiday" day w/pay within 2-3 weeks before or after the actual day, so everyone gets a day w/holiday pay regardless of whether they work on the actual day the holiday is observed.

Yeah...that's if people are willing to work on another day. In my exp., it was very difficult to get someone to work for me on days I wanted off, so I started taking my scheduled holidays off.

It's a two way street.

Tweety, BSN, RN · Oct 18, 2005

Yes, I think if you got Christmas off, and people knew you didn't celebrate, they would naturally come to you and ask you to trade. Nothing wrong with that is there?

Better yet, why not volunteer to work those days? I'm not much into the holidays myself, but for Thanksgiving, and I volunteer to work Christmass Eve and Xmas Day. I've been doing that for years. I work with a Jehova Witness nurse who does the same thing.

Tweety, BSN, RN · Oct 18, 2005

Yeah...that's if people are willing to work on another day. In my exp., it was very difficult to get someone to work for me on days I wanted off, so I started taking my scheduled holidays off.
It's a two way street.

Yes, what goes around comes around. I often trade with people who ask, and when they thank me, I say "just remember me when I ask you to trade with me one day".

CapeCoralNurse2be · Oct 18, 2005

Personally if I didn't celebrate Christmas or Easter, I'd offer to work them for the extra money alone. I'd maybe offer to work for someone else and then get it in writing that they will work a certain date for you that you'd like to have off and give it to who ever does the scheduling. I don't care much about working on Christmas, but I do prefer to have Thanksgiving off since I host Thanksgiving at my house every year.

I used to not mind so much working in the hospital on the holiday's. It was usually pretty quiet and uneventful. The Docs did everything possible to get as many people discharged so they could be home with their families, and we just did what we could to spread some sunshine onto those patients who were in no condition to go home. But I also worked for a small community hospital so maybe it's different in a larger one. I worked an odd shift so I couldn't really do anything before or after work. 12pm to 10pm and had a 45 minute drive each way.

But yes, I'm sure you will get bombarded with people asking you to work once they find out you don't celebrate those holidays. If you don't want to work them when you are scheduled off than just don't work for anyone, let them know that you prefer to stick with the schedule that is made. It's your call.

LydiaNN · Oct 18, 2005

May I ask if having your employees want to trade off with you would actually pose a conflict? I know several people of a religion that doesn't celebrate holidays, and they've actually expressed a preference for working these days. Things tend to be more relaxed on these days, and many of the activities they might typically plan for a day off are impractical on a holiday (stores and businesses are closed, etc) Just offering that as food for thought; I don't think you're under any obligation to share your beliefs or alter your schedule for anyone.

allnurses Guide · Oct 18, 2005

I think whether you celebrate the holiday or not, it is a company holiday and if it is your turn to have that day off and you want it off to spend in front of the tv stuffing your tummy with cookies, you should be able to take it off and no one should be able to make you feel guilty for taking a day you are owed.

If you wish to offer the day for a co-worker, that is all good too.

But this is like the thread about people with kids thinking they deserve the holiday off more than the folks who don't have kids deserve it off.

It is your day off. Take it if you want.

steph