Hello Stage Managers,
I came across something new (for me) today and am checking in with my Business Rep but I have confused myself with this Christmas Rule (or my GM and I just have a different understanding the rule.) My instinct is to look at the most conservative sense of the rule to avoid making a costly scheduling error down the road, but my equity greenness may also be causing me to be overly conservative.
The Current Plan for Rehearsal:
Sunday 12/16 Day Off
Monday 12/17- Rehearsal
Tuesday 12/18- Rehearsal
Wednesday 12/19- Rehearsal
Thursday 12/20- Rehearsal
Friday 12/21- Rehearsal
Saturday 12/22- Rehearsal
Sunday 12/23- Rehearsal
Monday- 12/24- Day Off (Christmas Eve)
Tuesday- 12/25- Day Off (Christmas Day)
Wednesday- 12/26- Rehearsal
Thursday- 12/27- Rehearsal
Friday- 12/28- Rehearsal
Saturday- 12/29- Rehearsal
Sunday-12/30- Rehearsal
I Included the pertinent rules below. Now, there is not an actual day off in the week of Monday 17th. I took (f) [below] to mean that regardless of the Christmas rules, you still need a day off in each M-Sun week. My company believes that since we do not have more than 12 days between our day off that we are fine or that possibly the actors can vote to move the day off to the next week (for Christmas Eve). Now, in my opinion- the actors would much prefer to have both Christmas Eve and Day off but I haven't been able to find a rule to support this yet. Any experience/advice/other red flags you may have had with this would be greatly appreciated.
I guess I should count myself lucky that I've generally be off at Christmas, though a pay check is a nice present too. Thanks all! Gina
From the LORT Rule Book:
(ii) Christmas. In addition to the regular day off during the workweek, there will be no rehearsal or performance (except during tech week) on either December 24 or December 25 (but not both unless the regular day off is scheduled by the Theatre on December 24 or December 25). The Theatre may schedule six performances over three consecutive days during the seven day period prior to or following December 25 but not both. During tech week, unless there is a second day off during the workweek, there shall be a daylight day of rest in the same week as the holiday. The daylight day of rest is only required if there is a day free of technical rehearsals in Christmas week. Such daylight day of rest may end at 5:00 PM. (iii) Any changes of day off required by sections (i) and (ii) above will not be included in the changes of day off referred to in section (E)(7)(c).(e) Under no circumstances may more than eight consecutive days elapse between days off, except that 12 days may elapse between days off to comply with the Thanksgiving and Christmas Rule above (see Rule 66(H)(1)(l)(iii)). (f) NOTWITHSTANDING THE ABOVE, THE WORKWEEK IS STILL DEFINED AS MONDAY THROUGH SUNDAY AND THERE MUST BE A DESIGNATED DAY OFF WITHIN EACH WORKWEEK. [Equity's All Caps, not mine]
EDIT: Fixin some fonts. --PSMK