The research, which surveyed over 1,100 UK workers, found that the majority of employees 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 |
The Worst Part About Working Over Christmas |
|
A more relaxed working environment (38.3%) |
Missing out on time with family (76.1%) |
|
Christmas bonuses (29.3%) |
There’s little to do as work is quiet (25.4%) |
|
Flexible working hours (26.1%) |
Working longer hours (19.3%) |
|
Christmas music played in the workplace (24%) |
Irritable / stressed customers and clients (18.6%) |
|
A more casual / festive dress code (22.3%) |
Having to listen to Christmas songs (15.6%) |
|
Jolly customers (21.9%) |
Missing out on Christmas parties (13.3%) |
|
Staff Christmas social events (18.6%) |
Being made to wear festive clothing (6.4%) |
|
Secret Santa with colleagues (16.8%) |
Having to train temporary Christmas staff (3.1%) |
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 per cent stating that their company does not offer any sort of incentives for working over the festive period and a further 76 per cent 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.”
