That is cool, but where I work, we man/woman up and work our shifts unless we are on our death beds, especially on really important days. So when this same individual tries to leave for home on Christmas night this year after work, just maybe someone will call in on the next shift thereby making him stay until midnight or so....what goes around.
Did you ever notice that no matter who you are, if you disappear off the face of the earth, the "company" doesn't skip a beat?
Personal days are fine. Just put in for them, in advance. If I was gonna take off on SB Sunday...or the day after, I'd let 'em see me throwing up in the office. In other words, I'd show up and make 'em tell me to go home. But, that's just me. Glad I no longer have to worry about it.