A survey of 1,000 adults who have worked on 25 December has revealed eight unexpected benefits of taking on the festive shift, as Office for National Statistics data shows approximately 1.2 million people worked on Christmas Day in 2025, a slight increase from 1.1 million in 2018.
What workers value most
Among those surveyed, 37% said the primary appeal is the opportunity to make Christmas memorable for someone else, while 25% appreciate contributing to their community. For healthcare workers specifically, 45% treasure helping to make the day feel significant for those unable to celebrate it with their loved ones.
Additionally, 27% of those working on Christmas Day appreciate avoiding the stress of cooking or tidying up afterwards and the expectation to have a flawless day. Others relish not having to make lengthy journeys to visit relatives, and enjoy the space away from family and potential squabbles.
Recognition and rewards
The survey, conducted through OnePoll, found that 30% of all workers highlighted how meaningful it was to witness someone's spirits lift as a direct result of their actions, while 27% cherished receiving an unexpected expression of gratitude. Many have even been given a card (28%), a gift (25%), or a tasty token of appreciation (33%) on 25 December.
The average festive worker is now on their fourth consecutive Christmas, with 21% having completed 10 or more shifts throughout their career.
Adapting festivities and the Big Christmas Shift
Those on shift on Christmas Day find ways to adapt their own festivities. Some choose to reschedule the entire day so they can spend it fully with their loved ones. Others opt to set aside a handful of cherished traditions, such as sitting down for Christmas dinner (45%), visiting extended family (37%), unwrapping presents (31%), or heading out for a festive stroll (18%).
The research was commissioned by Greene King, whose second annual Big Christmas Shift offers Christmas Day workers a free meal from 2nd to 5th December. Workers have until 16th November to sign up or to be nominated by loved ones.
Andrew Gallagher from Greene King said: "Behind so many special moments that the rest of us enjoy, there are people giving up time with their loved ones to make Christmas special for somebody else. So, this year, we are giving Santa a little less of the credit and putting the spotlight on Britain's real Christmas shift workers. Offering 30,000 free meals is our way of saying thank you to every person behind the scenes and giving them a chance to enjoy some well-earned festive cheer of their own."
The eight unexpected perks
- Quieter roads/commute.
- Not having to worry about cooking Christmas dinner.
- Having another day off instead.
- Less pressure to have the "perfect" Christmas.
- Celebrating Christmas on my own terms.
- Escaping the Christmas Day clean up.
- Not having to travel long distances to see relatives.
- Navigating family dynamics.
