Holiday Time Off in Vet Med: Is Seniority Fair?

Should the person who’s been at the clinic longest always get first pick of holiday time off?

This week on the Veterinary Viewfinder, veterinarian Dr. Ernie Ward and credentialed veterinary technician Beckie Mossor, MPA, RVT, tackle a familiar source of tension: deciding who works Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s. They weigh seniority, rotating holidays, lotteries, and shift swaps, including what happens when family plans change after the schedule is set.

Ernie explains how his practice used seniority to resolve competing requests. Beckie questions what makes a system fair and whether holiday duties should fall only to certain staff members. There’s no perfect formula, but there are ways to make the process clearer and give teams more room to work things out.

The discussion covers announcing clinic hours early, setting clear time-off policies, and considering relief coverage. They also explain why holiday boarding checks should involve at least two people and why veterinarians can share that responsibility.

Whether you’re making the schedule or waiting on it, this episode offers practical questions to bring to your team before holiday requests become a last-minute scramble.

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