5 Perks To Working Over The Holidays
Whether or not it’s by choice – we’ve all worked over a holiday or two. Initially the idea might seem depressing, boring, or strange. Working during the holidays? Who would want to do that?
Well, you know that the answer is “a lot of people.” Maybe scheduling required it, or it was just your turn this year. But eventually, everyone has to put in some hours over Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s. It’s inevitable.
But look on the bright side: You don’t have to cook or clean, and it’s not like you are working 24 hours – holidays go all day and night (party until the sun comes up!). Also, you get to spend time with patients and co-workers on a day that means a little more than any other one.
So, along with a lot of intangible perks, here’s 5 more that we think makes working holidays worth it:
1. Overtime Pay
Most facilities pay overtime rates for holidays, including Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s Day. Be sure to check with your facility to see what type of extra dough you can make by working over them. You’ll barely remember missing the first helping of mashed potatoes when you get your paycheck and it’s fatter than a stuffed Turkey.
2. More 1-on-1 time with your patients.
Because most facilities schedule less procedures and appointments during the holidays, the patients and appointments that you do have can benefit from more time and attention. This type of 1-on-1 attention might be even more important to patients who may not have the same support system as others during the holidays. Make that extra time count. You could be the person who makes someone’s holidays brighter.
3. Chill Atmosphere
This is more than just a clever temperature-based pun. If you live in typically-busy city or have a commute that is the worst part of your day, you might be in for a pleasant surprise on those holiday mornings. More people are staying home during that time; meaning everything will have cool, easy-going vibes to it. Less traffic on the roads. Your barista is working today too, so you can be holiday buddies. Everything is chill.
The day after? Maybe not so much.
4. You Look Really Good To Your Facility
You only have one chance to make a first impression, but you have INFINITE chances to make lasting ones. We just made that up, but it applies here. If you are new to a facility or you aren’t traveling back to your family for the holidays, volunteering to take shifts and appointments over the holidays makes you look good to co-workers and those people with families locally. Also, it shows initiative to the higher-ups.
Plus, you get to show off those holiday sweaters you’ve only been wearing at home.
5. Free Holiday Decorations
Stay with us on this one – but you can basically get all of next year’s decorations for FREE. You know that all that fantastic decor is going straight in the GARBAGE ten seconds after midnight. So why not volunteer to take the best stuff out to your car and spare the landfill all that extra tinsel?
Holiday work in an inevitable part of a career in healthcare – and looking at it as a privilege rather than a burden can go a long way in making those holidays brighter for everybody.
Like our Giphy’s? You can get them all right here to download, share and ogle.
<Find Your Next Assignment with AMN Healthcare
Additional Allied Healthcare Resources:
- AMN Passport: Our all-in-one allied app for booking allied travel jobs.
- Refer-a-Friend: Make up to $2,000 per referral.
