Name: Daniel Goggi
Age: 27
Occupation: Senior physiotherapist
Do you usually work during the festive period?
Yes, I usually do. I work as a senior physiotherapist in a rehabilitation ward where rehabilitation input is required on a daily basis.
Do you choose to work during the festive period?
My job requires me to do so – patients do not have holidays so our job has to go on even during the festive season.
Do you miss celebrating the festive season with your loved ones?
Let’s put it this way, I can take vacation leave just like anyone else. Having said that, since the service provided in the hospital has to be ongoing, one cannot take vacation leave easily as other colleagues would want to take the same days off too. Luckily, we do get to have our public holidays, so I never get to miss the actual celebration itself as long as I’m not called in if I happen to be on call.
Has working in the festive season affected your relationships outside work in some way?
Not really. I do not work during weekends so that always gives me two days during the week where I can catch up with family and friends.
Although you’re going to be working, will you still take a short break to celebrate the festive period?
I plan to take the occasional day off in the weeks before Christmas – that way, I still get to do the Christmas shopping with my wife.
What do you do to keep the Christmas spirit at work?
The hospital where I work has an incredible team. They go out of their way to create the best atmosphere to work in, both for us employees and colleagues and also for our patients.
How do you feel about working this festive season?
It is both rewarding and stressful at the same time. On the one hand, you feel you are helping others who need your input to get better and hopefully have a successful rehabilitation outcome; on the other hand, sometimes we do experience difficult days when we have a few members of the team on leave and have to work around the clock to get all the work done. Having said that, hopefully next year, it will be the other way around.