• Question: do scientists get days off at Christmas?

    Asked by avrilking to Cathal, Ciara, Emma, Michael, Sive on 18 Nov 2013.
    • Photo: Cathal Cummins

      Cathal Cummins answered on 18 Nov 2013:

      I can only speak for myself (and the other mathematicians in my office) but I get time off for Christmas. I don’t really have a boss and I don’t have hours I need to be in work. When you have spent 4 years doing a degree and another year doing a master’s degree you are expected to have good time-management skills so it’s up to you to decide how long you think you need to take off and when. 🙂

    • Photo: Sive Finlay

      Sive Finlay answered on 18 Nov 2013:

      Hi Avril,
      Yes, even mad scientists aren’t in the lab on Christmas day!
      As Cathal said being a PhD student is not like other jobs in the sense that you manage your own time so we don’t get a specific number of holiday days that you’re allowed to take over the year. So it’s up to you to decide what time to take off – but also up to you to keep your work moving so you have to find the balance between work and holidays 🙂
      Sive

    • Photo: Emma Cahill

      Emma Cahill answered on 18 Nov 2013:

      Hi Avril, yes for most people. But a lot of scientists live away from home, theres a lot of working abroad so not everyone makes the big distance trips in my gang of friends. I will definately be in front of the fire this Christmas anyway!

    • Photo: Michael Nolan

      Michael Nolan answered on 18 Nov 2013:

      Ho Ho!

      As University staff we get holidays from 24th Dec to 1st Jan (maybe 2nd if the 2nd is a Friday). That only means you are not obliged to come to work.
      In reality, we use this time to catch up on reading and maybe thinking about a few ideas.
      So, the short answers are yes and no 🙂

      M

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