Whenever I've worked at places that aren't closed the day after Thanksgiving or the week between Christmas and New Year's, I've always worked - my family is far away and my husband's is local so I was never going away, and it was so nice to come in when it was so quiet because everyone else was on vacation. I got to use my own vacation days when I wanted to be off and looked like I was doing a good deed all in one.

Since we go to my brother's house for dinner, I work the day after every year, after stopping on the way in at Walmart and Toys R Us. It's the best day to come in, few people, phones not ringing, quiet day. But next year, I think we are going to do Disney that week.

I work MLK day for pretty much the same reasons as stated above. Well, not to avoid family or shopping, but to look hardcore in a quiet office.

Same for me. I get so much done without emails coming in by the minute and the phone ringing all the time.

Likewise for snow days when we have a liberal leave policy. There's a story that back in the dot-com days, the CEO of a start-up comapny was trying to speak to Ted Leonsis (then head of AOL and a big honcho) about getting some funding from them, but Leonsis' secretary always screened teh calls. Well sure enough this guy calls on a snow day and secretary is out so he gets Leonsis directly and pitches him. He did the deal.

I always get so much done!

Anonymous wrote:I have ALWAYS elected to work the day after Thanksgiving in a federal office, for the reasons mentioned. Plus I engender good will from coworkers who need/want the day off because they're in New Jersey.

Same.

Plus I look "hard core" for working after a holiday (and I was 9 mo. pregnant last year) when nobody else wanted to

Best commute days around. That alone saves me over an hour a day.

Anonymous wrote:I always worked that day to avoid my visiting inlaws.

Oh man yes yes yes!

I always worked that day to avoid my visiting inlaws.

I always work that day. It is great.

Anonymous wrote:The week between Xmas and new years us
Is similarly awesome

Yes, I always work at least a few days this week. We have family close by so no big travel plans for the holiday beyond a two hour drive, and we usually try to take some time before Christmas. Then this week I come to work and it's DEAD. You get so much done, and can leave early, come in late, metro is empty, etc. Love it!

The week between Xmas and new years us
Is similarly awesome

I have ALWAYS elected to work the day after Thanksgiving in a federal office, for the reasons mentioned. Plus I engender good will from coworkers who need/want the day off because they're in New Jersey.

My former colleague uses that day to address her Christmas cards at her desk.

Since having DD (she's 4 now) I've always worked the day after Thanksgiving in order to save leave. I stumbled into finding out that it's the best day ever to work. No one is in the office, I crank up the christmas music, do some internet shopping and head to the mall for lunch. Every year my husband asks me if I'm gonna work the day after Thanksgiving and I tell him that I am because I want to save leave when really it's because I love coming in to work that day. He acts disappointed when really he's disappointed that he has to get up early with DD and wont be able to sit on the couch all day watching college football. Am I the only one who works the day after Thanksgiving cause they like it?