BT broadband office

1. At December 20, 2007 10:14 AM, M wrote:

The fortnight covering the last week of the year and the first week of the next should be a complete shut down of all but essential services and only people with absolutely no interest in celebrating this period should be considered for working.
This break should not affect annual holiday entitlement as it currently stands

2. At December 20, 2007 10:32 AM, Zen wrote:

The only way employees would take there jobs seriously is if they are rewarded for taking on extra tasks to help the company and to build a sense of loyalty. Team bonding is very important which is why we regularly arrange nights out and paintballing events. Staff don't care if they let the boss down, but would they care if they let there work mate down?

3. At December 20, 2007 12:28 PM, Jim wrote:

Incentives?
Im off at xmas and im glad, there is no incentive in my workplace, they're even charging for a cold uncooked dinner, dont make me laugh.
I bet some companies love the staff unfortunately mine does not, no offer of extra pay over the festive period either.
Im living the festive life this year, bye bye work

4. At December 20, 2007 12:28 PM, Joseph Smith wrote:

In my view, christmas time is a time for family, for being together with friends and loved ones, not in the work place. I feel that the work place is coming more and more intrusive into our lives, and does not take into account factors such as health, personal well being or religion when it comes to Christmas. This day should be kept seperate from the work place for people to spend time with family.

5. At December 20, 2007 12:59 PM, Isaac Mendes wrote:

I agree with, "M" on this case, as not everyone follow's chrimstas like the Christians or others. Other religions see this time of year differently, or celebrate it in another form at a different time. So they need to take that into account when allocating holidy hours.

When the chinese new year comes and people need time of for that, or the one month fasting for other religions, they don't cause such a stir at that time do they?

6. At December 20, 2007 1:05 PM, J G Dawson wrote:

Personally, I've never seen such a fuss made over what amounts to nothing more than a keyboard - but at least the BBCs ability to state the obvious is clearer now - Get a life please - It's Christmas...

7. At December 20, 2007 1:24 PM, N wrote:

I'd like to be able to work this period without being forced to take it as a holiday - saving my holiday allotment for the year for the times I'd like to take, rather than at a time when the shops etc are all shut and I have nothing to do.

I'm happy to wish other people a Merry Christmas - but it's not really something I am interested in - companies (apart from very small ones) should be capable of offering more options.

8. At December 20, 2007 4:07 PM, D wrote:

Forgive me if I am wrong but is Christmas not 1 day? We have tried to extend it by adding in another day, Boxing Day, but come on!! People are now taking it too far: 2 weeks! You all need to stop being so lazy, get back to work and be productive. I bet the people who think they should be entitled to 2 weeks off over Christmas will be the first people to moan when they cant get their bread and milk from the local shop cos the owner is on a 2 week break too.

9. At December 20, 2007 4:56 PM, Kurtis Angle wrote:

I've informed all of my employees that if any of them call in sick for whatever reason on monday they will be automatically dismissed. . . . . What they don't know is that I've got a day of fun planned for all of them, paintballing and go-karting, so when next year comes and they expect the same treatment there shouldn't be any absence. Needless to say there won't be another Christmas eve fun day next year! Mu Ha Ha!

10. At December 20, 2007 6:33 PM, JAMES LYON wrote:

The self employed person cannot afford to be sick or have FREE sick days off paid for by their employer. People seem to want something for nothing these days.

Our busy time starts after people see how much money they have been given on Christmas Day - When they can go onto the internet and buy what they really want or buy items to add to their Chriftmas gifts !!

All the best to everyone.

James

11. At December 20, 2007 6:51 PM, Isaac Yankem wrote:

Seems to me like there is simply no point in most companies opening over Christmas, at least on the day itself and Boxing Day. You really have to wonder exactly how much business they are going to get. I personally wouldn't expect a business to be open on these days, and I would think that it is only the most Scrooge-esque customers that would consider it bad customer service to find them shut. It therefore seems pretty pointless to be paying employees double or triple time to be in.

I run a successful dentistry business, and I for one will be taking a ell deserved couple of days off.

12. At December 21, 2007 4:02 PM, fast cash wrote:

Nice Article and I will say marry C'mas to every one.

13. At December 22, 2007 8:02 PM, Tanvir Ahmad wrote:

I see a reason behind this. Lot of companies out there do not treat their staff as they should. The incentive is not there at all for all the good works the employees are doing for them.

To me family always comes first and I am sure that everyone out there would want to spend some quality time together. So I don't blame those people who have genuine needs who call in sick just to do the last bit to make christmas a good one for their family. The chancers are however always there!

14. At December 24, 2007 10:58 AM, Carl Lotter wrote:

X-Mas is the one time of year that the whole family could get together, Aunts and Uncles and the lot. Nowadays when you take your leave you dont get to spend time with all these relatives cause they dont have the same leave period and X-mas was the time that all families would to get together. I think people need to get out of the rat race and take a break. To those who dont celebrate X-mas, me included, we are in a Christian country and therefore should have to live with this. After all we all made a choice. People work to live not the other way round.
Hope veryone remains safe over the festive period, I for one, will be working.

15. At December 31, 2007 10:21 AM, mark wrote:

christmas? wouldn`t it be nice to have some time off. We have all had to come in, the only time off being xmas day and boxing day. It would appear the boss thinks everybody does this. Try ringing a supplier or customer, THEYR`E ALL OFF YOU IDIOT. Well, happy new year to everyone.

16. At January 2, 2008 11:33 AM, Alan Jones wrote:

I seem to remember that the only reason we have a "traditional" business shut down over the Xmas period is that when Ted Heath was Prime Minister and there was a miners strike there was a plan to save power and the whole country took turns to have their electricity cut off. Over the Xmas period that year it made sense to shut down completely to conserve power supplies. Since then the break has actually increased.
If people were honest I think most would prefer a shorter break and use the remaining days at other times during the year.
I cannot imagine that China and India close their business` down in a similar way and it just brings forward the time when they will surge past us in economic terms.

17. At January 2, 2008 1:38 PM, m wrote:

i take it you have never tired to get a chinese takeaway during their new year!! they take about a week off for that!!