EngineerHer

The holiday season is a time for joy, celebration, and quality time with loved ones. However, for engineers working in industries that undergo shutdowns during Christmas week, the festive season may take on a different hue. (Me! I’m one of those poor engineers, slaving away this week!) In this blog post, we will explore the pros and cons of working as an engineer during the Christmas week shutdown. From the potential financial gains to the impact on work-life balance, we’ll delve into the various aspects engineers should consider when faced with the decision to work during this traditionally festive time.

First off… the pros

Financial rewards

One of the primary advantages of working during the Christmas week shutdown is the potential for financial gains. Many companies offer overtime pay or holiday bonuses for employees who are willing to work during this time. Engineers who choose to work during shutdowns can significantly boost their income, providing a tangible incentive to forego holiday festivities.

I’ve never worked for one of these companies mind, but if you are contracting in particular, there is money to be made during holiday season. And… if you are willing to work Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and St. Stephens’ Day… well it’s not quite name your price, but it can be close enough!

Professional Development Opportunities

During shutdowns, engineers may find themselves with unique opportunities for professional development. With reduced operational activities, employees may have more time to engage in training sessions, skill-building exercises, or collaborative projects that could enhance their expertise. This can be particularly beneficial for career advancement and skill diversification.

In other words – it’s all hands to the deck during shutdowns in general. During holiday season, everyone wants in and done as quickly as possible, so all help is welcomed. Particularly as a woman, you may find the most hesitant of engineers and technicians open to accepting your help if it helps them get done quicker.

Special note here: although everyone wants to get done as quickly as possible, this in no way eliminates the need for safety on the job. There will be safety people and otherwise useless managers (also me!) wandering around purely for the purpose of ensuring safety rules are being adhered to. I call it my “dead body check”, as do many of my colleagues from previous industries.

Reduced Distractions

With fewer colleagues and external stakeholders in the office or on-site, working during the holiday shutdown may provide a quieter and less hectic environment. This reduction in distractions can allow engineers to focus more intensely on their tasks, potentially leading to increased productivity and the ability to tackle long-pending projects.

I love this week for getting paperwork out of the way. (Well I can’t spend all day on my dead body checks.) It’s a great time to get things signed off; clear out the inbox, attend to those jobs that are important but really never urgent… It’s also a good time to have a chat with people. Even in work during this season, people are usually in good enough form and it’s possible to have conversations in a more relaxed atmosphere.

Not the time to be tackling any serious disciplinary issues, unless it’s completely unavoidable. But, those quiet chats that are needed sometimes, pointing someone in a new direction or ensuring someone is aware of an upcoming job opportunity or even encouraging someone to go have a conversation with someone else… all those sorts of things are great to get done this week.

Networking opportunities

This can be a follow-on from the previous point.

The holiday season often sees a more relaxed and informal atmosphere in the workplace. This can create valuable networking opportunities as colleagues and superiors may be more approachable during this time. Engaging in casual conversations and building relationships with key individuals can be advantageous for career growth and future collaborations.

If you see your manager’s manager wandering around, they’re probably doing as I am this week. Being seen, making sure safety standards are upheld and generally making themselves available. Honestly, they’ll be delighted to have someone come up to them and show them what they’re up to.

Unless they are literally running. In which case don’t go near them, but maybe follow them to make sure you escape whatever it is as well…

But seriously. I will always make time in my diary to talk to anyone who wants to talk to me, but this week is usually meeting free, so I have way more time on my hands. There’s a fair good chance I’ll even stand you a coffee!

Flexibility in time off

Some companies offer flexible scheduling during the holiday season, allowing employees to choose when to take time off. Engineers working during shutdowns may have the flexibility to schedule their time off at a later date, ensuring that they can still enjoy the holiday festivities with family and friends.

My parents got used to me not being around for Christmas in the last decade or so. Thankfully, I manage to get Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and St. Stephen’s Day off usually, but there have been times when even that’s been a close call.

Now, that’s crap when you’ve got family, particularly when Santy is still visiting. On the other hand, working over Christmas/ the holiday season means you don’t have to save holidays for those days. So you get flexibility at other times of the year. And usually, there’s enough work to go around that you could probably choose which days you’re available for work and which days you’re not.

And now the cons…

Work-life balance

Perhaps the most significant drawback of working during the holiday shutdown is the potential strain on work-life balance. The holiday season is traditionally a time for relaxation and spending quality moments with loved ones. Choosing to work during this time may lead to feelings of isolation and the sacrifice of precious moments that can never be reclaimed.

It’s usually possible to arrange things so you can make critical family (whether blood or chosen family) events. But not always. If your biggest project of the year involves an installation on the 26th December – well, even from a professional pride point of view, it would take a lot to have me miss something like that.

If you are working during the holidays, usually organisations make the effort to make it easier than normal work. The complete lack of meetings other than a brief start-of-day and end-of-day catch up is a major improvement. The practice of “job and knock” (the day is done when the jobs are finished) is rampant during this period, since everyone knows there are the jobs that take so long, it feels like you’ll never leave site. And sometimes there’s a request for flexibility around start and finish times, particularly if there is major electrical work going on.

Emotional toll

Missing out on festive traditions and family gatherings can take an emotional toll on individuals working during the holidays. The sense of being away from loved ones during a time of celebration may lead to feelings of loneliness and sadness, impacting mental well-being.

Now, once you get used to it, you make your own holiday traditions. There are ways, as I describe above, to make sure you make the events that are really important to you. But I tell you, when my alarm went off at 5am this morning, I felt a serious toll!! I’m ok now, but it was definitely a struggle to get out of bed when I knew no one else around me would be stirring for hours yet!

Limited availability of support services

During shutdowns, some support services, such as IT, administration, or maintenance, may operate on a skeleton crew or be entirely unavailable. This can pose challenges for engineers who rely on these services to carry out their responsibilities, potentially leading to delays or increased stress levels.

If we’re really honest? Maintenance will be in – it’s shutdown after all – but IT, HR or admin? Not a hope. Not unless there is an IT project being implemented in which case they’re all too busy implementing the project and dealing with the last minute issues that always arise in that sort of project. But in saying that, it’s rare we need those support services during shutdown. Most people aren’t trying to access IT equipment over the shutdown. They’re swopping valves, pressure testing pipework and other exciting things.

Passwords and failed logins can wait til the new year!

Potential for burnout

Working during the holiday season, especially during shutdowns when workloads may be higher, increases the risk of burnout. Engineers may find themselves juggling multiple tasks and deadlines, leading to fatigue and decreased job satisfaction. Over time, this can have long-term consequences for both physical and mental well-being.

After a few years, you will find out what works for you. For example, I’m taking a few days off in the first week of January to make sure I get some downtime. Most of my team are managing at least 2-3 extra days off during these two weeks, so we do get the break, just not all in one go.

And learning to pace yourself for the shutdown is very important. I’ve done the shutdowns where I didn’t go home for 72 hours straight. I’ve done the shutdowns where I was so tired on the way home, I swear the car drove itself home. (This is pure unsafe by the way, and I don’t do it anymore). I’ve done shutdowns where the production manager has taken my work phone from me and ordered me off site in a taxi so I’d get some sleep in a bed.

It’s not worth it. Trust me. The organisation you work for isn’t going to give you a medal for this sort of pace. Take the time to assess what really and truly needs to be done and work on that first. The nice-to-haves can come later if things are going well. But a good night’s sleep will serve you better in the long run than staying round the clock just to “keep an eye on things”.

Strained relationships

Choosing to work during holidays can strain personal relationships, as family and friends may feel disappointed or neglected. Balancing professional commitments with personal obligations becomes challenging, and the strain on relationships may persist beyond the holiday season.

If you know you’ll be working during the holidays, particularly if you know you’re working during an important family occasion, have the conversation with loved ones as early as possible. Get the recriminations out of the way, and work towards coming to some sort of agreement to what is possible. For example, my poor parents have two engineers as offspring (No, we don’t know what they did wrong either)

We’re usually working up to the last minute and because of my roles as maintenance and facilities, I’m usually back in work on the 27th. So we’ve come to the agreement that we try and get the whole family, spouses and now grandchild included, together for an overnight stay at the homeplace at a minimum. It’s usually sometime between Christmas and New Year’s, but not always. And it works for us.

Be open with family and friends as to when you are available and what is possible for you. OK, you may not make every single 12 pubs of Christmas outing, but you might make one or two…

So where does this leave us?

As an engineer, working over the holiday season is almost inevitable at some point in your career.

Deciding whether to work during the holiday season involves a careful consideration of the pros and cons. While financial incentives, professional development opportunities, and networking advantages can be enticing, the potential impact on work-life balance, emotional well-being, and relationships cannot be ignored. Engineers facing this decision should weigh their priorities, considering both short-term gains and long-term consequences. Striking a balance between professional commitments and personal life is crucial to ensuring a fulfilling and sustainable career. Ultimately, the choice to work during Christmas week is a personal one, and each engineer must assess their unique circumstances to make an informed decision that aligns with their values and priorities.

And remember, the decision might not be entirely up to you. If you are required to work during shutdowns and shutdown happens during the holiday season, well that’s a different choice. It’s a choice between staying in the role you’re in or moving on. And that too will come down to personal circumstances and choices.

For now though, I’m off for another dead body check and then lunch. Happy holidays!