Where I work (NHS), everyone in admin had the same idea and broke up on Friday 20th December and then come back on Tuesday 7th January. Not sure why Tuesday 7th though and not Monday 6th?
In the department where I am, 2 of us do the same work so as long as 1 of us is in, the other can go off. So I worked around Christmas as I don't mind doing that and then I got given today and tomorrow off instead. I think that coming back to work on 2nd January is way too soon after New Year. We should adopt the Scottish model and treat both 1st + 2nd as bank holidays.
If there are parents in the group, its likely because there is a teacher-training / inset day on the 6th.
I know my kids dont go back until the 7th