Some students are required to work on holidays, despite requested time off.

Maddie Steen

When it comes to working on holidays, employers need to be considerate of those they force to work.

I’m sure while going through the application process, many agree to work holidays whether they actually mean it or are just saying so to get hired. No matter the reason, everyone deserves to be heard before being required to work during an important holiday.

Students should know ahead of time when to request off, but when over half of the staff requests off, there is no telling who will actually have to work. Employers don’t have to pay a holiday rate, but maybe they should consider offering a small bonus to those who volunteer to work. There are no laws requiring employees be paid a holiday rate or be provided time off, according to the Fair Labor Standards Act.

If a boss is unwilling to work on Christmas Eve or day, then no other worker should be expected to show up. Christmas is a time of giving, not selfishness. Forcing others to miss religious holidays is inconsiderate.

Obviously, chains like Wal-Mart and Target are not going to close for the entire day, but for smaller chains and locally-owned shops, employees should band together to stand their ground on staying closed. If the company isn’t part of a major chain, it seems possible to convince smaller business owners to be empathic and allow the store to close for one day.

Lucas Skye 

Many students seem excited to go back home and celebrate the holidays with those they love; for some it will inevitably be spent at work, but it is their responsibilty to get the time off. Many big name companies like Costco, Hobby Lobby and Kohl’s are open during Christmas Eve and other religious holidays despite them being important spiritual events for their employees. The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission does require “reasonable accommodation,” according Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. However, time off may not be granted when “an accommodation may cause undue hardship if it is costly, compromises workplace safety, decreases workplace efficiency, infringes on the rights of other employees, or requires other employees to do more than their share of potentially hazardous or burdensome work,” according to the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

In order to make sure students are free to enjoy their holidays with loved ones it’s important to let their employer know the days they are requesting off as soon as possible. This allows them to provide accommodation and find someone else to cover the shift.

Alyson Schott

As a student who goes to school full-time and works a part-time job at a retail store, working during the holidays definitely has its pros and cons; the biggest con being lack of important family time. During winter break, the hours get crazy and the stores stay open longer. Winter break is supposed to be about going home and spending time with family during the holidays. For those who work, winter break isn’t a break. Students work all of the time and don’t have as much of an opportunity to spend with family as they would like to.

Most of the major stores like Walmart and Kohl’s stay open til 6 p.m. on Christmas Eve, according to their hours posted online. To some, that’s early and a decent time to close. In Dekalb, most stores employ with college students. A lot of students would like to go home right after their finals are over; getting home before Christmas Eve seems to be important to many people. Because of stores staying open late hours up until Christmas Eve, it makes it hard for those students who work, to go home.

Stores being open during the holidays is a big inconvenience when it comes to spending time with family. I have a brother coming home from the military right before Christmas, and I get to stay here in Dekalb and work while he will be sitting at home with my family. I haven’t seen him since he graduated training in July. Stores shouldn’t be open at all on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. Family is important when it comes to the holidays.