Not back until the 7th.....

[Shovelhands]

I can’t imagine there are many of us who are not back at work until Monday. I know plenty of schools won’t be back until next week, but how many businesses can afford not to be back until the 7th of January?

I’d love an extended Christmas break, but the reality is there’s too much to do, like many, I have barely stopped, and many of you with stock won’t have actually had a day off at all! But we called our usual haulage company this week, only to find that they are not back at work until Monday!

That’s two jobs they’ve lost with us this week, and we have unfortunately been forced to go with a competitor. I think maybe we will spread our business around a little in the future rather than relying on one supplier too much, as it’s also highlighted some slightly keener prices.

Anyhow, got me wondering how many companies are still not back, and how much potential business they may be loosing? I know it’s only a few days, but every day counts in some businesses.
Plenty of other suppliers have been back to work as usual this week, and one of the local builders merchants was actually open between Christmas and New Year, which never used to happen.

Anyone else found that some companies are still closed this week?

 

[RAF]

Kids aren’t back till Tuesday .

 

[kiwi pom]

Kids not at school until the 29th here but it is their summer holidays as well.
Plenty of places here open this week but a lot closed too. I think a lot depends on staff wanting holidays and it may be better to have everyone off at once rather than a few at a time. It might mean a few jobs lost but if its considered a quiet week generally it may be better overall to close until the 7th.
Every business is different I guess. Plenty of arable farms doing bugger all this week I'd say.

 

[Matt77]

I know of an arable farm that shut on December 17th and aren’t back until the 14th of Jan, chap said they’d always said it was a little something back after the effort they put in over the rest of the year. Bit different to a business selling stuff though I’d say. I can’t get hold of a salesman I want to speak to regarding a trailer we started talking about just before Xmas

 

[Happy]

Haulier that moves most of my grain flat out at the moment.
They were 5 days solid at carrot lifting from 27th to 31st but still managed to send a couple of wagons in to me on 31st to get loaded for delivery when everything back up & running as usual on 3rd Jan.

Pretty much everyone back to work as usual up here as of yesterday.

 

[kfpben]

Catchment Sensitive Farming not back until the 7th when I contacted them. As a quango I would expect nothing less!

 

[Kiwi Pete]

The engineer that builds/services our fert bins is closed til the 7th, we have a surprise for them
Breakers (for my rear diff) the same

Good on them though, I've had two days doing feck all at work, I should have done the same but it beats staring at my farm burning up .

 

[country_gal]

I started back at work yesterday. I was helping Mr CG on the farm during that time off though (apart from Xmas Day when I was cooking and napping )

 

[Jim75]

What’s the panic? If it was urgent would you not have spoken to them pre Xmas. Few ag dealers up here shut for the 2 weeks unless it’s a breakdown. Can’t blame them and may as well make the most of it as there’s more to life than work.

 

[Farmer Roy]

Err, I've just come back from a 2 week family camping holiday . . .

Have my house for sale at the moment - even though the office doors are closed for a few days, I think the real estate agent has his phone permanently grafted to his head He showed a few couples around between Christmas & New Year - but then, I'd expect that from the commission he will earn . . .

 

[JP1]

I can’t imagine there are many of us who are not back at work until Monday. I know plenty of schools won’t be back until next week, but how many businesses can afford not to be back until the 7th of January?

I’d love an extended Christmas break, but the reality is there’s too much to do, like many, I have barely stopped, and many of you with stock won’t have actually had a day off at all! But we called our usual haulage company this week, only to find that they are not back at work until Monday!

That’s two jobs they’ve lost with us this week, and we have unfortunately been forced to go with a competitor. I think maybe we will spread our business around a little in the future rather than relying on one supplier too much, as it’s also highlighted some slightly keener prices.

Anyhow, got me wondering how many companies are still not back, and how much potential business they may be loosing? I know it’s only a few days, but every day counts in some businesses.
Plenty of other suppliers have been back to work as usual this week, and one of the local builders merchants was actually open between Christmas and New Year, which never used to happen.

Anyone else found that some companies are still closed this week?

I am required to take 5 days of my annual holiday allowance over the Christmas period

 

[traadilooar]

I doubt if you will lie on your deathbed thinking I'm glad I worked that extra couple of days at Christmas!
Got plenty to do here but think will have a day out as kids are only young once.

 

[milkloss]

I am required to take 5 days of my annual holiday allowance over the Christmas period

That’s what it is about I think. Get some staff holiday done and dusted makes organising staff time easier.

 

[ewald]

Plenty of men on arable farms don't use their holiday allowance in the summer (for obvious reasons), so most in this area have at least two weeks off at Christmas to use up some days.

 

[Farfrae]

UK in the biggest crisis since world war 2 but MPs don't return until next week. Tells you all you need to know really.

 

[Wombat]

I am back on the 7th had some holiday to use up. Always seem to end up with some now rather than when the weather is nicer

 

[kiwi pom]

Mrs pom's worked all over Christmas and new year, the rest of the department is back now so she's having next week off

 

[David.]

We are talking about 6 potentially disrupted working days, when it is difficult to know whether you will be able to get hold of what or who you need, because of varying shutdowns.
It is more to do with what you achieve at work than the hours you spend there.
Ok if you have stock to tend to it has to be done, but I have to say if I employed anyone I would rather they stayed at home and did some decorating or something, and come back fresh and ready for work on the 7th, than them come in and go through the motions of being here and looking busy.

 

[DrWazzock]

When I worked at the factory we closed for 2 weeks as we could not be sure that our suppliers / customers would be available. It also be fair to say that many people would be hungover etc. We were forced to take the non public days out of our annual entitlement which was fine. People also returned to the job feeling well rested and ready to get on.

The best thing about being a self employed small farmer is I can choose when to work. I have had a busy Autumn lifting beet and there will be enforced long days soon enough when lambing starts so at the moment feed the stock, potter and have a day out now and again. Life's too short. Work tends to find me, so I don't go looking for it.

 

[Will Blackburn]

UK in the biggest crisis since world war 2 but MPs don't return until next week. Tells you all you need to know really.

What, because it's not really that serious!