Eight surprising perks of working Christmas Day – and it's not just about the money
Missing out on family celebrations might not be so bad - a new survey revealing why some workers actually enjoy the Christmas Day shift
Working on Christmas Day might not sound like everyone's idea of festive fun, but a new survey has revealed eight unexpected perks of spending December 25 on the job.
While missing out on time with family is an obvious downside, thousands of people who have worked the festive shift say there are plenty of reasons to enjoy it, from quieter roads to escaping the pressure of preparing the perfect Christmas dinner.
A poll of 1,000 adults who have worked on Christmas Day found that 37 per cent appreciated being able to commute on quieter roads, while the same proportion said their biggest reward was making the day special for somebody else.
More than a quarter (27 per cent) welcomed not having to worry about cooking Christmas dinner, while 19 per cent enjoyed escaping the washing-up and cleaning afterwards.
Others valued having less pressure to create the picture-perfect festive celebration, avoiding long journeys to visit relatives and getting some breathing space from complicated family dynamics.
For 25 per cent, the opportunity to give something back to their community was another major attraction.
The benefits were particularly meaningful for healthcare workers, with 45 per cent saying they treasured being able to make Christmas feel special for people unable to spend it with loved ones.
The research, commissioned by pub group Greene King and conducted by OnePoll, also highlighted some of the memorable moments experienced by people working over the festive period.
These included helping someone who was struggling, comforting people spending Christmas alone and making it possible for others to enjoy familiar traditions.
Around 20 per cent of those surveyed had helped someone connect with family on Christmas Day, while 16 per cent had helped another person take part in a festive tradition.
Across all professions, 30 per cent said one of their favourite experiences was seeing someone's mood improve because of something they had done.
An unexpected thank you had also made Christmas special for 27 per cent, while others had received cards (28 per cent), presents (25 per cent) and even edible treats (33 per cent).
The typical Christmas worker surveyed had completed six festive shifts during their career, with 21 per cent having worked 10 or more. Many had also adapted their own celebrations, with 79 per cent keeping some traditions but moving them around their working commitments.
Almost half (45 per cent) still made time for Christmas dinner, while 37 per cent arranged to see extended family and 31 per cent made sure presents were opened.
Greene King has launched its second annual Big Christmas Shift campaign, offering 30,000 free meals to people working on December 25.
Workers can sign up or be nominated by someone else by November 16, with meals available between December 2 and 5.
Andrew Gallagher, from Greene King, said the initiative was designed to recognise those who sacrifice time with their own families to make Christmas special for others.
He said: “Behind so many special moments that the rest of us enjoy, there are people giving up time with their loved ones to make Christmas special for somebody else.
“Offering 30,000 free meals is our way of saying thank you to every person behind the scenes and giving them a chance to enjoy some well-earned festive cheer of their own.”
The eight unexpected perks of working Christmas Day:
- Quieter roads and an easier commute
- Not having to cook Christmas dinner
- Having another day off instead
- Less pressure to have the perfect Christmas
- Celebrating Christmas on your own terms
- Escaping the Christmas Day clean-up
- Not having to travel long distances to see relatives
- Avoiding complicated family dynamics