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A holly jolly, but working, day
By JENNIFER GOLDBLATT, Times Staff Writer While masses of people celebrated Christmas in the comforts of home, surrounding by gifts and family Wednesday, plenty of Pasco residents toiled the holiday away behind cash registers, computer screens, hot stoves and reception desks. "Somebody's got to do it," said Jerry Pope, who was collecting tolls at the Suncoast Parkway toll plaza between State Roads 52 and 54. Pope had agreed to work Christmas in exchange for Thanksgiving Day off. "We work out little deals," Pope said. About half of all companies require at least a skeleton crew on Christmas and New Year's Day, according to the Bureau of National Affairs in Washington, D.C. That typically includes people who work in public safety, maintenance and hospitals, and where service is required 24 hours a day. But it also falls to workers at the few businesses that choose to stay open for the holiday. At assorted coffee shops, convenience stores, gas stations, movie theaters and hotels, full holiday staffs were bombarded by heavy crowds. At Denny's in Port Richey, the waiters outfitted in Santa Hats and shimmery outfits were busy attending to a full house. At 11:30 a.m., there was a 90-minute wait for a table.
The Walgreens in New Port Richey was crammed with customers dropping off film and browsing for after-Christmas bargains. Many Christmas workers said they didn't mind minding the store for the day, either because of much needed holiday overtime pay -- which can be up to double the regular pay rate -- or to relieve colleagues of the burden. "I don't have a hard time with it," said Kathy Graham, guest services supervisor at the Holiday Inn Express in Port Richey. "The staff all understand the hotel business, so they're pretty good about it, too." For public safety workers, being on the job on Dec. 25 is a holiday tradition. "I grew up in a law enforcement family, so working Christmas is like working any other day," said Lt. Skip Stone with the Pasco County Sheriff's Office. At the New Port Richey Fire Department, the firefighters took the day in stride, enjoying a quiet scanner, and a chance to recline in La-Z-Boys and watch Christmas programs on TV. The crew of three whipped up their own Christmas dinner Wednesday afternoon, featuring turkey with all the trimmings. "You'd rather be home with family," said Lt. Bill Mutz. "But it's just part of the job -- holidays, birthdays, anniversaries, you're here."
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From today's Pasco Times |
