Not back until the 7th.....

[Hooby Farmer]

My worker is expecting a baby in the new year and asked if he could work between Christmas and New year as he couldnt afford to be off. I didn't want to say no so the day after boxing day we we're back at it. Everyone's holidays around Christmas are so messed up around here. Some are off and back to work in between Christmas NY some off to the 8th some off to the 2nd. Trying to work around it is a pain.

 

[7610 super q]

If folks would clearly state when they're at work, it would be something. Half days off here, and there, is ridiculous. Won't be back to normal till February, at this rate.

 

[Tractorstant]

French industry shuts for a month in the summer I believe.
@le bon paysan

Or go on strike, hard to tell some times!

 

[Brisel]

While it may suit some, it is quite a harsh business model, forcing your staff to take holidays when weather tends to be poor.

No obligation on any of my staff. I have enough bother trying to encourage them to take time off before harvest - they get to November & still have most of their holiday allowance unused. From the end of October I have about 5 days before Christmas without at least one of them on leave. They all choose to take the period between Christmas and New Year off. I took 6 days off over the break around loading grain lorries who don't stop.

Our holiday year starts 1st Jan so the full team has been back since 2nd. We can get stuff done because it's quiet & the phone isn't ringing every 2 minutes.

Do you grow crops and give staff time off during harvest?

The one thing I hate about Italian machinery is trying to get parts during August. Actually, there's other things I dislike about Italian kit but that's the main one...

 

[Pennine Ploughing]

Santa's off till the 24th of December 2019

 

[Beowulf]

Finished up on the 14th of December, staff not back until 7th January. Apart from yours truly, I'm not back until the 28th January.

I always encourage people to take time off whenever they can. As an employer I can see the difference in productivity from a well rested employee versus one that's starting to burn out but doesn't realise it.

 

[Bury the Trash]

having said that local builders merchant says on answerphone not back till 7th...

... so will have to go to Mvf who opens all the time except the hardcore hols ….and .having said that.I actually feel sorry for the staff actually on Sundays/Saturday avo opening ..

 

[Bury the Trash]

My worker is expecting a baby in the new year and asked if he could work between Christmas and New year as he couldnt afford to be off. I didn't want to say no so the day after boxing day we we're back at it. Everyone's holidays around Christmas are so messed up around here. Some are off and back to work in between Christmas NY some off to the 8th some off to the 2nd. Trying to work around it is a pain.

 

[Still Farming]

Only "cushy" employed can be off until then?
Holidays and paid for it ???

 

[idgni]

We are back today , been closed from the 20th Dec
the bit a lot of Farmers/ Self employed people don't understand is , "It's Compulsory to give 28 days holidays" to PAYE staff.

With a small firm of say 5 staff, if one person is off, everyone else has to work 25% harder to make up for them, (and if they can do that why are they not already doing that ?)
so the easiest thing is to shut and get holidays out of the way at a time when people sort of expect you to be possibly closed,
We close for 2 weeks at Christmas, 2 weeks in July and 3 Days at Easter, still leaving a full week Flexi .
Holiday Entitlements and Minimum Wage are a nightmare

 

[Frodo2]

We are back today , been closed from the 20th Dec
the bit a lot of Farmers/ Self employed people don't understand is , "It's Compulsory to give 28 days holidays" to PAYE staff.

With a small firm of say 5 staff, if one person is off, everyone else has to work 25% harder to make up for them, (and if they can do that why are they not already doing that ?)
so the easiest thing is to shut and get holidays out of the way at a time when people sort of expect you to be possibly closed,
We close for 2 weeks at Christmas, 2 weeks in July and 3 Days at Easter, still leaving a full week Flexi .
Holiday Entitlements and Minimum Wage are a nightmare

Holidays shouldn't really be too big a problem with a relatively flexible workforce and a bit of management. With your 5 employees you just have to accept that for half the year one person will be doing holiday cover and another off.

Sickness and illness while unavoidable are a much bigger risk for business interuption.

 

[Still Farming]

We are back today , been closed from the 20th Dec
the bit a lot of Farmers/ Self employed people don't understand is , "It's Compulsory to give 28 days holidays" to PAYE staff.

With a small firm of say 5 staff, if one person is off, everyone else has to work 25% harder to make up for them, (and if they can do that why are they not already doing that ?)
so the easiest thing is to shut and get holidays out of the way at a time when people sort of expect you to be possibly closed,
We close for 2 weeks at Christmas, 2 weeks in July and 3 Days at Easter, still leaving a full week Flexi .
Holiday Entitlements and Minimum Wage are a nightmare

And apperently if they use their noddle they can turn into 38 days if take and link to statutory public Bank hols.
Also if in small way and few Women employed and come in and say pregnant, might be "tin hat" for some businesses too.

 

[Wombat]

Only "cushy" employed can be off until then?
Holidays and paid for it ???

It's always farmers who trott that line out

 

[Kimberley]

From a purely commercial perspective, there are staggered staff in the insurance industry working in between Christmas and New Year. Most financial services are closed though until early January. The start of the year is a very busy month for us, lots of renewals are due so we couldn't afford to be closed over the festive period. We also get a lot of inquiries at this time of year, people wanting to try and save money on their insurances and looking to be more savvy and shop around.

My farming clients are busy planning for the year, some are looking to diversify into different areas within agriculture. How many of you have/ or are in the process of looking to diversify from traditional farming? I would be interested in hearing from anyone who has done this.

 

[Stewart Setter]

I think it comes down to what your business is. Pastoral farming seems to be one that does not shut down at all, for obvious reasons. Forward planning would help with dealing with customer and supplier shut downs but like with most things anything can change and throw a perfectly good plan out of the window. I'm pretty sure that my local rare breeds farm let the staff off Christmas and boxing day and did the feeding and cleaning themselves and yet the insurance firm I work during the day have staff available 24-7 365... go figure !

 

[idgni]

Holidays shouldn't really be too big a problem with a relatively flexible workforce and a bit of management. With your 5 employees you just have to accept that for half the year one person will be doing holiday cover and another off.

Sickness and illness while unavoidable are a much bigger risk for business interuption.

"flexible workforce" After twenty years of employing, (and i'm only 42) I've have learnt those two works only are ever seen together on paper!!,
with more employees the strength lies with the boss, but in a small company, the power is with the employee. and they know it very quickly.

 

[le bon paysan]

Or go on strike, hard to tell some times!

No point striking in the summer when you get time off anyway, better wait till winter and go skiing .
Wife noted when Macron put the fuel tax rises off ( for 6 months initially ) that it is so much nicer to protest when its not cold and raining!

 

[General-Lee]

If folks would clearly state when they're at work, it would be something. Half days off here, and there, is ridiculous. Won't be back to normal till February, at this rate.

I’m on holiday end of the month, is that ok?

 

[Pheasant Surprise]

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?

You should try living in Aussie. The whole month of January is regarded as off limits. Mind you it is right in the middle of their summer...the cricket is on, the barbie is stoked, and the beer is flowing, so effectively like August here.

 

[7610 super q]

I’m on holiday end of the month, is that ok?

No !!!, you had enough time off over Christmas you lazy barsteward !!!!!