Table of Contents

1. Less stress
2. Relaxing celebrations on alternative days
3. Camaraderie at work
4. Guests’ happiness
5. A new perspective on holidays
6. Something to do when everything is closed
7. Better tips
8. Your employer’s appreciation

When you have a job in a hotel or restaurant, working on holidays is part of the territory. Although you might feel like you’re missing out on the conventional ways of celebrating, you may also notice some advantages of working on holidays. These include:

1. Less Stress

Some people feel a lot of pressure on holidays—to prepare a big meal, to put up perfect decorations, to eat more than usual, and create an idyllic family scene. If something doesn’t go according to the plan or there’s a disagreement between relatives, they can feel disappointed and stressed. But when you work on holidays, you don’t have sky-high expectations that are bound to come crashing down. The holiday is more like a normal workday, not a pressure cooker.

2. Relaxing Celebrations on Alternative Days

Many hospitality professionals celebrate holidays with their families a few days after the actual date. This alternative celebration may be more laid-back. After working hard on a holiday, people often want to focus on family and friends rather than on the material aspects of the celebration. Thus, the time they spend with loved ones may be even more meaningful.

3. Camaraderie at Work

Since most of your coworkers also have to postpone their holiday celebrations, they know what it’s like. You feel a greater sense of teamwork and cooperation on a holiday because everyone is doing their part to make the holiday celebration possible. That experience of working together and creating something special is something you don’t find on just any workday.

4. Guests’ Happiness

When you work holidays, you allow countless guests to eat delicious meals and spend time with the people they care about. It’s rewarding to see how joyful guests are thanks to your dedication and hard work.

5. A New Perspective on the Holidays

You look at the holidays from a different angle because you’re at work and interacting with the public instead of taking the day off. You know how much effort is required to get a venue ready and how much cleanup happens after the celebration. You get to play a part in guests’ holiday vacations and meals and see how love and togetherness can light up their eyes. That gives you a greater perspective on what’s really important about the holidays.

6. Something to do When Everything’s Closed

So many places are closed on national holidays that these days can be kind of boring, particularly if you don’t have family nearby or if you don’t want to stay home. The few places that are open are usually crowded and have limited parking. If you’re someone who likes to keep busy, working on a holiday may be more fun for you than waiting in a humongous line or sitting at home. When you do have a day off, you can enjoy it by going to shows or attractions that weren’t open on the holiday itself.

7. Better Tips

Guests feel especially generous on holidays, and they often give bigger tips. Guests may also order more food than usual, which is another factor that pushes up the tip amount. This means working on a holiday can be significantly more lucrative than working a typical shift.

8. Your Employer’s Appreciation

Your employer relies on people like you to come to work on days when most of the world takes off. Your employer is grateful that you’re willing to do that, and at a minimum, you probably get a big thank-you. You might also get some material signs of appreciation, like a monetary bonus, free food, or special perks or gifts.