When it comes to the holidays, many of us expect to have them off. Whether it’s Hanukah, Christmas, Thanksgiving, New Years, etc., the assumption is that the holidays are automatically a day off of work or that one can request religious days off and the request is granted. However, this is not always the case.
My early work experiences included jobs that were “open” on the holidays. For example, when I had a paper route at age 13, I could not take a paid vacation or not deliver the paper on a holiday. If I went on a family vacation I would have to pay someone to “sub” my route. When I worked in the restaurant industry starting in high school, I would make money only if I physically showed up and worked my shift.
These early work experiences have caused me to reflect this season about the many occupations that do not stop for the holidays in San Jose. Doctors, nurses and other hospital personnel, sewage treatment plant workers, and PG&E crews, among others, work during the holidays. Although I have not needed their services, thankfully, I appreciate that they are present and prepared.
Two specific professions that work year round are our police and fire departments. I think I speak for everyone when I say that police and fire are two professions that go above the call of duty.
I attended the police briefing on both Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. The police department has three shifts each day. Each shift is given a briefing at the police station where the watch commander will do roll call and inform the new shift about the latest happenings, like keep a lookout for this car or this person. The briefing reminded me of the opening scenes of the 80’s cop show Hill Street Blues and the quote, “Let’s be careful out there.” After the meeting, the police grab their cars and their shot guns and go on patrol. This was my first time attending a briefing and I found it interesting and informative.
I also visited the fire stations in the district I represent. I went to each firehouse on Christmas Day to greet our fire fighters and thank them for their service.
A “thank you” is in order for all who work on the holidays and a “very special thank you” to our public safety officers. We value your service.
Have a safe and joyous New Year!
P.O.
I would like to reccomend that you take a “RIDEALONG” in a patrol officer’s car for an entire shift. You could really get a feel for what the officers do. As a councilman you should consider this and then come back and tell us what happened on the entire shift. Think about this seriously please.
“A “thank you” is in order for all who work on the holidays and a “very special thank you” to our public safety officers. We value your service. “
Damn straight.
My 80-year-old father slipped in the bathroom and busted his ankle on Christmas morning. Thank God the paramedics and ER staff were working that day.
Happy new year.
Pieluigi,
I think it was a great gesture on your part taking your Xmas Eve and day attending the police briefings, to say thanks to officers working those days and not spending it with their families. I’m sure it was greatly appreciated by the officers and will be remembered.
Politics aside, I’d also like to say thanks to our military men and women who spend years at a time away from their family to keep our country safe.
#1
Hello Napper,
Thanks for reading and posting.
I have been on several police “ridealongs” both Friday and Saturday nights and will continue to do so. They have been very informative and insightful. I may write about them in the future. In addition I would like to do a shift with San Jose Fire as well. Happy New Year.
Happy New Year SJI bloggers and writers!
I want to join in and say THANK YOU to our Police, and Firefighters, Medical professionals, and most importantly, our military troops. Thank you keeping us free, safe, and the biggest, strongest country in the nation. May the Lord keep them safe, and bring them home in the New Year.
Be happy and safe everyone!
#1 NAPPER
PO’s been on RIDEALONGS before, certainly on Nov. 17th till 3AM in Downtown SJ.
I know this because I spoke to him several hours later at 8:30AM at the United Neighborhood’s 13th Annual conference. He showed up, on time and you couldn’t tell he only got a couple hours sleep.
I double checked and indeed it is listed on his online calendar. I was impressed. He could have blown off the United Neighborhood event, since there are so many people there he wouldn’t have been missed too much in the scheme of things, or breezed in late, but he didn’t. He supported the groups efforts. Anyhow, I just though I’d toss that in that’s he’s been in the back of a squad car… for ridealongs.
TO ALL:
WHAT A GREAT WAY TO END THE YEAR ….
NO NEGATIVE COMMENTS. NICE GOING GUYS AND GIRLS
NAPPER
All
Thanks for being part of our community. Happy New Year and optimism reigns on sanjoseinside.
TMcE
I agree that a big thank you is due to those who work in emergency services on holidays. But keep in mind that most of these folks are being paid double or triple time wages to be at work. This is not true for most people in the service industries (retail, restaurants, home health care, domestic workers, etc.) Keep this in mind when you get service from anyone working on a holiday, while you are off work with full pay.
#9- Excellent point about service workers. We too often take their hard work for granted. Without them, we’d be lost. So in this New Year, I’d like to say a special thank you to those hard working folks who serve us our coffee, stock our grocery shelves, and a million other blue colar, under appreciated services.
By the way, we had a great time counting in the New Year last night at Comedy Sports, in downtown San Jose. If you haven’t been there, you must try it! Please support small businesses like this one. They have a 8 pm family show, and I promise you this, your kids will have a blast and so will you!
#9,
San Jose Police Officers do not get paid overtime for working on Holidays. If their shift falls on a certain day that is a Holiday they work, no overtime. Maybe there are other emergency workers who do, but not San Jose cops.
Pierluigi,
Thanks for all your support in 2007. You have done a lot for the residents of district six in 2007. Your traffic calming town meetings held all over the city showed your attention to neighborhood concerns city wide. The meetings were very well organized and open for all. Preservations also seem to be pleased with you.
Supporting the S.J. P.D. and Fire Department in district six brings real harmony to our district.
One man can make a difference.Keep up the good work!
#9 thanks for posting what I was thinking. #11 don’t worry about SJPD, they have the best benefits the city has to offer, they don’t need your sympathy. I find it hard to believe they don’t get overtime. OT is usually one of their biggest budget issues. A friend of mine works for San Mateo Sheriff. She is pleased as punch with her ability to double up her OT/comptime for working holidays.