It's clear for Santa Claus - he is the busiest this season. But others also have to work in the last days of the year.
Among them are, for example, emergency workers or those employed in the restaurant and retail sectors, for many of whom this is the most stressful time. The same goes for logistics workers, who deliver more letters and packages at Christmas than at any other time of year.
Who can rest at Christmas?
Most Europeans enjoy paid holidays. But the differences in this regard are significant: in different countries between Christmas Eve on December 24 and January 6, which is also a public holiday for some nations, there are between two and six days off.
For example, there is no European country in which December 25 is not a day off, but the 26th is a working day in Austria, Spain, Belgium, Malta, Portugal and Ukraine. On December 24, there are more countries in which people work than those that give their citizens the opportunity to rest - 20 against 12.
It is also different on New Year's Day: December 31 is a day off only in Iceland, Switzerland and Bulgaria - the country in which there are three days off at Christmas, and the same number are added to them on New Year's Day. January 2nd is also a holiday in very few European countries - only in Bulgaria and Romania.
It's not always easy
A study by the German "Hans Böckler" Foundation shows that in Germany almost every tenth employee has to work on Christmas Eve, which is not a holiday. There are also regional differences - people in the eastern part of the country have to work more than their compatriots in the western part. In some federal states, shops have to close at 2 pm on December 24 - so people have to hurry to secure everything they need for the period until December 27.
The Christmas bonus
In Germany, those who work on Christmas are not necessarily disappointed, because they can get up to a "thirteenth salary" during the holidays - depending on the number of hours worked. In southern European countries such as Portugal, Spain, Greece or Italy, a single statutory holiday bonus is paid - depending on the industry and the employer. Other countries give bonuses more by tradition than in accordance with legal requirements. Some are currently considering whether to abolish them.
Author: Matthew Ward Ages