Seriously, what is the point of everyone having the same day off? Nothing can get done! I am so frustrated right now!
As a state government employee, I get 12 or so holidays off work, today being one of them. This would be great if I could actually get errands done on these days, but everywhere else of use is closed also. I just got back from an hour-long drive around town trying to check some things off my to-do list, with absolutely no success whatsoever. The check I wanted to deposit at the bank? Bank is closed. The back-left tire on my car that keeps slowly losing air? All tire places are closed. The dentist I’ve been trying to find a day off to see? Yep, he’s closed too.
So instead of being at work and getting stuff done there, I’m going to be forced to take another day off work next week to run errands, thereby getting even further behind. Here I sit, online, bored out of my mind, because there is absolutely nothing that you can get done on a ‘holiday’, making it a wasted day. ARG!! And to top it all off, there is no mail today so I didn’t get my next Netflix disc, meaning I don’t even have the movie I wanted to watch!
IMO it should be an option to work holidays and take the following day off, that way at least half of the businesses should be open. Am I alone in this? What are you all getting done this fine holiday day, since everything is closed?
I’m a schoolteacher, and although I like your idea (some, don’t know if it would work for Christmas :)) I think the parents have plans for the kids. I usually go to work anyway because I can get so much more planning done with no one else there.
I work during the week at one job and on weekends at my other job, so when there is a holiday I actually have off! Truthfully though, I’d rather work today and get paid double time.
Well, as a foreign worker, I’m supposed to get my US holidays, except here in this country the plant is open and I have things that must get done. Now next week is a local holiday (and it will be BIG), but since it’s not a US holiday, I’m expected to be at work. (Luckily my management has a formal comp time policy.)
I’m not getting a goddamn thing done, which is rather the whole damn point of a holiday. And quite a lot of businesses are open, like stores and restaurants–one of the shittiest things about shitty service/retail jobs is that you have to work on holidays, and things tend to be nuts because everyone but you has the day off.
When I worked in hotels I would always volunteer to work on the holiday. Then they would give me a comp day off later in the week. I liked that much better. First of all, almost all holidays are slow in hotels and then I can take my day off when no one else is off.
Every place I needed to go today was open. But one of them was in the mall, which was an absolute zoo. As bad as Christmas. Seriously ridiculous. If I didn’t really need the item I was going for, I would have stayed miles away.
My job has floating holidays. Since shifts need to be filled on the holiday, people who want to work that day can volunteer for it even if it’s not their normal shift so others can take it off if they want. People who do work the holiday get a different day off the same week. Saves the company some payroll that way, too.
I got pretty well caught up on playing badminton & croquet with the kids, followed by a weeks worth of laying in the hammock with a book and a rum & tonic. Which is what holidays, and especially summer holidays, are supposed to be about.
I work at a restaurant, and I was at work from 6:30 AM until 10:30 PM. Busiest damn Monday I’ve ever seen. usually, Mondays are slow, and we can get caught up with prep after a busy weekend, but not this time. It means all week I get to play “catch-up” and I will probably get stressed out and punch some inanimate object in frustration.
But what really troubles me, is that the owners will see this busy holiday as evidence that we shouldn’t be closed on holidays any more. That’s just more work for me, and more money for them.
I spent yesterday morning horseback riding. It was a gorgeous day, and the dogs saw a fox in a field we were riding through, leading to us shouting, “Tallyho” and such.
Then we went to Moraine State Park and rented a pontoon boat. The only one available at that point was a twenty four footer, but two adults and three dogs filled the space nicely.
I love holidays when everyone else is off work - it’s the only time I can get anything done in my office. Since my husband is as likely to be working a holiday as not, I just take mine when he has his. For instance, Thanksgiving is a week early for me this year. Being salaried and a boss with my own keys & codes is a definite advantage.
I too hate having to take days off for holidays that mean nothing to me. I have a certain amount of work to get done, and I budget my time accordingly, so when I’m forced to take a day off I don’t have less to do, I have more to do when I get back. Not to mention that holidays are boring and I would rather be at work doing interesting things and hanging out with my pals.
Well, I could have told you the bank would be closed. Have you ever heard of a bank or post office being open on a federal holiday?
I’m surprised about the tire places though. I wouldn’t expect to find a mechanic at a gas station, but I would have expected the big tire places to be open. Well, except maybe for Four Day, since Monday’s probably not one of the four days.
Around here, the biggest hassle is finding someplace to eat lunch. Everything on campus is closed, as well as most of the places near campus. Work, though, goes on as always for grad students.
I’m surprised that people found things to be crowded in restaurants and retail over the Labor Day weekend. Around here (DC area), people actually tend to relax over Labor Day weekend: either they’re at the beach or the pool one last time, or they’re taking it easy in the backyard.
I went to the Trader Joe’s in Old Town Alexandria on Sunday afternoon, and it was the least crowded I’d ever seen it, with no more than 2 people in line at any cash register.