Benefits of Working Holidays
Working when most people have off isn't all bad, really.
While you may be grumbling about having to work when everyone has the day off, I have found there are a few benefits to working those days - at least for the morning commute. The parking lot is on the empty side so that upfront and center spot that you dream about may actually be yours. Also consider that with fewer cars in the parking lot, there's less chance of being run over. Sometimes it's useful just to focus on the small victories when you can't or don't want to burn a vacation day.
The train is a little on the empty side so if you don't get a seat to yourself, you should at least have more elbowroom than usual. With less people in the office, it will probably be a quiet day. You should be able to tie up loose ends with fewer interruptions unless you need answers from someone than you're just up a creek until after the holiday. I said benefits not nirvana!
Maybe your employer will even left you leave early. I should give you a word of warning about the homebound route. Your trip home may be more crowded than usual depending on the holiday. With people leaving early (possibly including you) and more non-commuters are traveling with their baggage, your easy ride in may turn into a standing-only ride home. Sometimes the train line learns the holiday traffic patterns and adds cars. It's always fun to be standing on a platform surrounded by 4 cars worth of people when only 2 full cars show up.
The benefits along with a few downsides really only apply to holidays that do not affect the train schedule. Even if the trains and parking lots are near empty that day, it is not fun to be left with less train options especially when there are connections involved. Those are the days that I definitely consider taking off or working from home.
Posted: April 6, 2007 (Permlink to this Tip)
Posted in Schedules & Delays
Tags: holiday , parking lot , schedule
