Employment on public holidays: from work to giving presents

Status: 12/22/2022 11:25 a.m

For many working people, Christmas also means taking a deep breath from everyday working life. But not everyone can look forward to contemplative holidays: Christmas Eve is associated with work for 20 percent of all employees.

It’s almost time – Christmas Eve is just around the corner this weekend. But the holidays are not associated with a break from work for everyone. According to a survey by the Economic and Social Sciences Institute (WSI) of the Hans Böckler Foundation, which is close to the trade union, December 24th is at least partly associated with work for a fifth of all employees in Germany.

About 4,200 employees – both employed and self-employed – took part in the institute’s survey. The result: On Christmas Eve, 20 percent of all employees still have to work until 2 p.m. After that, the Shop Closing Hours Act takes effect and heralds the end of the working day for many working people.

Slightly more men work on December 24th

In the new federal states, the rate is even slightly above the national average: Here, 22 percent of employees still go about their jobs until 2 p.m. Nationwide, a little more men are “on duty” again on December 24th until 2 p.m.: According to the survey, 22 percent of male workers still go to work during this time. For women it is 18 percent.

Among those surveyed, the percentage of workers with children who work on Christmas Eve was slightly higher than among those without children – both before and after 2 p.m. Around 21 percent of employees with children work until 2 p.m., later it is still eight percent. For employed persons without children, it is 18 percent before 2 p.m. and seven percent after that.

High proportion in the health and social sector

Overall, the rate of employed people who go to work after 2 p.m. on Christmas Eve falls to eight percent nationwide. The rate this year is likely to be slightly lower than in other years because the 24th falls on a Saturday.

While most workers still work until 2 p.m., especially in retail with 45 percent, followed by the transport sector with 33 percent, after the Shop Closing Hours Act takes effect, it is primarily the health and social sectors that still work. In these sectors, 22 percent of all employees are still on duty after 2 p.m. – the rate is similar here on the other public holidays.

Hospitality required on holidays and New Year’s Eve

According to the WSI, around eight percent of all employees and the self-employed also work on the two days of Christmas. Especially in the hospitality industry, the rate is high on these days.

An above-average number of employees are also on duty in this sector on New Year’s Eve. According to a survey, 19 percent of all employees have to work in the morning of New Year’s Eve, after 2 p.m. the proportion drops to ten percent. In addition to the hospitality industry, a particularly large number of employees work in health and social services, logistics and retail on this day.

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