The Professions with the Most and Least Time Off During Christmas

As the festive season approaches, many of us are counting down the days until our out-of-office goes on. But while some professions can truly switch off, others are gearing up for their busiest time of year.

Analysing the latest ONS figures, parliamentary recess data, and industry insights, we’ve estimated which UK professions will enjoy the most and least time off this Christmas. The results highlight just how differently Britain’s workforce experiences the festive break.

Festive Perks: MPs Lead the Way with 19 Days Off

Once again, Members of Parliament (MPs) are topping the Christmas time-off charts, with a 17-day break this year. The House of Commons recess runs from 19 December 2025 to 4 January 2026, allowing MPs time for constituency work and recovery after a busy political year.

Close behind are teachers, typically benefitting from a two-week winter break as schools shut their doors in mid-December. Pilots and airline staff follow, supported by mandatory rest periods to maintain safety.

Profession	Sector	Est. Annual Leave (Days)	Est. Christmas Break (Days)	Avg. Salary
MP	Government	80	17	£93,904
Teacher	Education	65	12–14	£42,000
Pilot	Transport	42	10–12	£64,000
Marketing Professional	Marketing	30	8–10	£40,200
Construction Worker	Building Services	28	8–10	£28,300
Cleaner	Home Services	28	8–10	£25,000
Lawyer	Law	28	8	£70,000
Pharmacist	Healthcare	28	7–8	£51,000
Train Driver	Transport	35	7–8	£52,000
Accountant	Finance	28	7–8	£36,000
Journalist	Media	28	7–8	£34,000
Barber / Hairdresser	Beauty	28	7–8	£26,000

These longer breaks are typically shaped by structured shutdowns, such as parliamentary recesses and school holidays, or safety-related downtime in industries like aviation.

The Holiday Hustle: Roles with the Shortest Festive Breaks

For many professions, Christmas is far from quiet. Hospitality, healthcare, and emergency services are often at their busiest, meaning shorter, shift-based breaks or even working through Christmas Day itself.

Profession	Sector	Est. Annual Leave (Days)	Est. Christmas Break (Days)	Avg. Salary
Bartender	Hospitality	28	4–6	£25,000
Waiting Staff	Hospitality	30	4–6	£28,000
Bouncer	Security	29	5–6	£30,000
Nurse	Healthcare	27	4–6	£35,000
Doctor	Healthcare	30	4–7	£43,000
Paramedic	Healthcare	28	4–7	£41,000
Police Officer	Law Enforcement	22	Shift work	£41,000
Firefighter	Public Safety	30	Shift work	£31,000

While many of us are raising a glass, these professionals are keeping the country running — from hospital wards and pubs to emergency response units and airports.

Resting for Success: Why Time Off Matters

In the fast-paced world of PR and communications, the need to truly switch off has never been greater. At Lem-uhn, we believe creativity flourishes when teams have the space to recharge. That’s why we’ll once again be closing our office from Wednesday, 24th December 2025, to Friday, 2nd January 2026, giving our team uninterrupted time to rest and reset.

As a B-Corp PR agency built around feel-good work and wellbeing, we know that rest isn’t a reward, it’s a requirement for great ideas. After all, the best campaigns start with a clear head and a full heart.

Methodology

Estimates are based on the latest available ONS earnings and employment data (to November 2025), official House of Commons recess dates, sector-specific surveys from PeopleHR and Glassdoor, and Lem-uhn’s own analysis of typical workplace shutdowns. Figures represent approximate averages and may vary by employer, contract type, or shift schedule.