Seasons Greetings all!

Question for the EMS crowd on how your base handles the Holidays.  I understand that the schedule is the schedule and thats it. So OK I work 7 Christmases in a row. 

Any bases out there have an alternate Holiday schedule that is fair for all?

Thanks!

no. too much turnover would be too complicated why bother. your opposite will not be there next Christmas 

 wait. now there's a plan

"I understand that the schedule is the schedule and thats it. So OK I work 7 Christmases in a row."

Divide the number of days in a year, 365, by the 7-day week and fixed date holidays move a day later each week each year, except leap years, when they move 2 days. Thus, next year's Christmas will be on a Monday.

If you don't change your schedule you only work a max of 6 years of holidays on schedule and as few as 4, depending on where you are after leap year Feb 29.

Seniority vacation bidding is also a factor- the senior guys can schedule vacations on holidays requiring the program to cover the day.

Alternating holiday schedules were discussed by the members at one contract negotitation schedule, but the decision was that your schedule was your schedule to deal with.

Having to work a holiday was somewhat offset somewhat by who you worked with- base crews often became very close, organized dinners, other ways to celebrate with family at the job. HEMS is/was famous/infamous for how closely involved crews got...

We used to have several young motivated pilots that would gladly workover Christmas day for the extra pay.  Not anymore, where have they all gone?  

It is best for an employee to request vacation time well in advance of the holiday, as this gives the employer ample time to plan and adjust their schedule as needed. If an employee submits a request for vacation time in advance and the employer does not have any extenuating circumstances that prevent them from honoring the request, they should generally approve the request. However, seniority may also be a factor in the employer's decision, as they may need to consider the needs and preferences of other employees when determining who will be granted vacation time. 

like nobody to cover the shift extenuating. either somebody covers it or they don't. if your company wants to give you the time off and not cover the shift, great but probably not going to happen. It's that simple in EMS. 

pilots do. management posts the openings. I'm sure there's tons of people dying to spend Christmas at your bfe base, though

If an employer does not explicitly deny a request for vacation time, particularly if it is submitted well in advance, the request is presumed to be approved.

that advice and two dollars will get you a cup of coffee and you're working Christmas bro

A vacation request is never assumed until you have an approval. Vacation time can always be denied even when requested well in advance. Oh, by the way, can you cover next October 12th-18th for me???  I'm sure you know your not doing anything that week..

 bring it up with the assistant shift leader I was you

I knew all the pilots in the program, so I'd call around and offer the day(s). Always worked for me.

The lead pilot is responsible for scheduling and filling work over time. put in for holiday vacation in advance. If he's any good he will get it filled a lot of times the lead will cover it since he's responsible for scheduling. 

If the pilots at my base wanted time off, I had them figure out the coverage and let me know.  If they had problems, I'd help out as needed.  Nobody ever didn't get the time they wanted but we had a pretty good group that was willing to help each other out.

"A lot of times the lead will cover it since he's responsible for scheduling"

The company won't actually put that in writing but depending on the management it was made pretty clear.  This was one of the main reasons why I left HEMS.  

Hated being in mgt in HEMS/HAA.  Actually never liked being in mgt anywhere.  Best job was line pilot.

Before I left, We'd just work it out.

All the pilots at our base had an agreement that nobody would have to work both Thanksgiving and Christmas.  Sometimes the schedule worked out but most of the time someone was on for both.  The person not scheduled for either got to pick which one to work and they would trade some other random shift to make up for it.  We usually did this around September so there was plenty of time for family plans etc.  It worked for us.

1. Typically, The same guy who wants off on scheduled holidays is usually the same guy who doesn't cover OT for others on holidays.

2. You request Christmas, Skanksgiving, Easter, etc off? You better come to me with someone willing to cover.  I am not responsible to find your holiday coverage.  Other days of the year, I'll find someone to cover.

3 Work the holidays on your schedule.  You still have half of the holidays off in any given year.  7 years working Xmas, then you get 7 years off on Xmas. 

4 Change your shift at the next base vacancy.  You could end up never working a Christmas.

you only can TRY to get somebody to cover. send out a group email and wait. whether it christmas or colombus day or quanza, whatever day, doesn't matter. either somebody wants to cover or they don't. If a guy wants it off, that's his business, not yours. don't get all bent out of shape just because somebody wants to be off on a holiday they are scheduled. it's just another shift that needs to be covered. lose the attitude.

Just because you WANT Xmas off, doesn't mean you GET it off...  Check the employee handbook.  PTO not guaranteed.  That's why they pay it out if you don't get it.

No, holidays are NOT another day to cover.  Lose your cry baby entitled attitude and do your job.

Do your job

what if somebody wants to work a holiday for me. is it okay if I let them? my company is cool with it and they will even pay me when I'm not there! I just wanted to check with you to see if its ok

No, not cool.  Should not have checked with me first.  You are an Elf, get back to work.  

High Shcool / Trade school graduate accepts 86k/yr job with shift work requirement.  Wants Xmas off, does not get it. Totally surprised and butt hurt that they were not able to force their co worker who was scheduled to be off to work for them because they are entiled. Called in sick anyway.

True story.