The Christmas Paradox: Why Hotel Staff Are Actually Okay Working the Holidays (And What Guests Miss)
It’s Christmas morning. The scent of hot chocolate swirls through the hotel lobby, guests shuffle in for their caffeine fix, and the staff behind the front desk are all smiles—possibly fueled by equal parts holiday spirit and caffeine. Somewhere in the merry chaos, you hear a heartfelt, if slightly ironic, guest lament: “It’s not fair, you shouldn’t have to be here on Christmas!”
And yet, there they are—checking you in, handing you coffee, making sure your holiday away from home is as warm as a Hallmark movie. If you’ve ever uttered that line, you might be surprised by what’s really going on behind the desk… and why your “unfair” holiday hero is probably doing just fine.
Let’s dive into the heart (and humor) of working in hospitality on Christmas, inspired by a viral Reddit post from r/TalesFromTheFrontDesk: “It’s not fair, you shouldn’t be here on Christmas.”
The Guest’s Good Intentions (and Ironic Timing)
The original poster, u/AardQuenIgni, paints the scene: a bustling Christmas morning at the hotel, with guests pausing to thank the staff for being there. One guest, in particular, stops at the desk and says, “It’s not fair, you shouldn’t be here on Christmas.” The irony is hard to miss—after all, the guest is there, too, relying on the staff’s presence for their own festive getaway.
OP catches themselves before blurting out the obvious (“Well… you’re here”) and instead responds with a cheerful, “Oh we don’t mind, we’re happy hanging out with y’all!”—a clever deflection that keeps the holiday vibes intact.
As the thread reveals, this kind of interaction is hospitality’s version of a seasonal classic. Commenters chimed in with stories from hotels, restaurants, airports, and beyond. As u/LLAP210 admits, many guests have said things like that without thinking it through: “It’s always from a place of sincere gratitude… but the sentiment comes out clumsily at times.”
Why “Unfair” Isn’t Always What It Seems
But is it really unfair to be working Christmas? You might be surprised by how many staff don’t mind—or even prefer it! As u/-roachboy points out, “if anything, I’m glad I’m here! I don’t celebrate Christmas anyway and I’m making double pay on top of tips from people who feel bad for me. Plus it’s so slow… so I just sit in the back playing games for most of the shift.”
Others, like u/sacredblasphemies and u/manniax, see it as a win-win: they either don’t celebrate, don’t have family nearby, or just roll their holiday to another day for a bonus long weekend. The thread is full of hospitality workers who volunteer for these shifts, trading holidays with coworkers who do celebrate or simply enjoying the quiet and the perks (one even mentions a “decent Mexican food buffet” and a Christmas bonus).
As u/cometview puts it, “There are several reasons someone might actually want to work over Christmas… non-Christian, single, wants the OT hours, generous person who wants to release a coworker.” Sometimes, “unfair” is in the eye of the beholder.
The Church Crowd, Fake Tips, and Holiday Ironies
The conversation took a hilarious turn as commenters compared Christmas shifts to Sunday brunches in the Bible Belt. As u/Method412 shared, it’s common for churchgoers to lament staff having to work Sundays—right before leaving a “tip” that’s actually an ad for their church. “And make horrible messes while being utterly unbearable,” adds u/RedDazzlr, with u/ShadowDragon8685 chiming in about notorious undertipping and the infamous “Chick Tracts” (those fake dollar bills with fire-and-brimstone messages inside).
Meanwhile, the real “unfairness” might be how much guests rely on holiday workers, while not always seeing the full picture. As u/TravelerMSY wryly observes, the subtext is really: “I’m sorry you have to work on Christmas, but I’m secretly glad you are because I would not have this hotel room otherwise.”
A Peek Behind the Desk: Real Talk from the Front Lines
Here’s the thing: hotels, hospitals, airlines, and a hundred other industries don’t close for Christmas. Someone has to keep the lights on, the coffee brewing, the beds made. As u/Heartless-Sage puts it, “They really don’t get it… who do they think will look after them?” Or, as OP jokes, “We can’t let guests run around unsupervised”—imagine the chaos!
For many, working the holiday is a practical choice. Some staff, like OP, have moved away from family and don’t mind picking up the shift; others use it as a polite excuse to avoid awkward family gatherings (as u/nycpunkfukka notes, “it was a good excuse to not visit my insane family”). Many just enjoy the camaraderie and the holiday pay.
And let’s not forget the guests who genuinely appreciate the sacrifice. “In order for us guests to enjoy our holiday at your hotel… someone needs to work,” says u/TararaBoomDA. “I, for one, deeply appreciate that.”
The World Doesn’t Stop—And Neither Do Service Workers
If you’ve ever worked a holiday shift, you know the world doesn’t pause for anyone. And maybe, just maybe, that’s okay. As u/MDF2025 shares, after 42 Christmases as a hospital nurse, “Now I am retired and my son has Stage 4 cancer so, yeah we travelled to see him this Christmas. Treated ourselves to a very nice hotel and handed out tips to everyone I saw. Thank you all for making these visits possible, because we never know which trip will be the last one.”
A little perspective goes a long way. The best gift you can give your hotel staff? A genuine thank you, maybe a tip, and—if you’re feeling bold—a story or a laugh to share. Just remember, they’re there because you are—and, odds are, they’re making the best of it.
So next Christmas, when you’re sipping cocoa in a hotel lobby, don’t fret too much for the smiling face behind the desk. They might just be exactly where they want to be.
What’s your funniest or most memorable holiday working (or travel) story? Share it below—let’s unwrap some cheer together!
Original Reddit Post: 'It's not fair, you shouldn't be here on Christmas' -guest staying at the hotel on Christmas