I, more or less, concur with HD. When I was at EGPD our next door neighbours thought I was unemployed. &, that was when 'PD was the third busiest aerodrome in the UK !
I didn't have it as easy as HD with Xmas & NY, but I had far more of them off than I worked. Even so, the loss of a few days was well worth it considering the overall time off benefits.
But, as a recently retired ATCO said above, the job has changed somewhat & it was before the "stifling hand" of the regulators made an unwanted appearance !