May I Work in a Restaurant on Purim if My Employer Will Not Grant Me Time Off?

Question:
I work in a Kosher restaurant from Monday through Friday. Due to a staff shortage, my employer does not want to give me permission to take off on Purim. However, I have learned that it is forbidden to work on Purim. What am I permitted to do?

Answer:
You may work in the restaurant on Purim.

Explanation:

Although there is a widespread custom to refrain from doing work on Purim—and one who performs prohibited work on Purim will not see blessing from that work—nevertheless, in your specific situation it is permitted to work.

The reason is that your work involves preparing and providing food, which is a daily human necessity. Additionally, customers who eat in a kosher restaurant on Purim are fulfilling the mitzvah of the Purim feast (seudat Purim). Since your work directly supports and facilitates a mitzvah of the day, it is permitted for you to continue working in this context. This is in addition to the fact that some Poskim rule that having a store open or working in a store does not transgress this custom of not doing Melacha.

Sources:

See regarding the general restriction against doing work on Purim: Michaber and Rama 696:1 [Michaber brings that there are some communities which are accustomed not to do Melacha, and the Rama concludes that this is the accepted custom in all places today]; Megillah 5b; Beis Yosef; Levush; Kneses Hagedola 696:2; M”B 696:1; Kaf Hachaim 696:1, 7; See Torah Or Megillah Chayav Inish Lebesumei 2; Sichas Purim 5718

See regarding the allowance to open a store on Purim: Mutar: Taz 696:1; Machmir: Shiyurei Kneses Hagedola 696:5; Shulchan Gavoa 696:3; Ruach Chaim 696:2; Kaf Hachaim 696:5; Mutar by store of food or drink: Aruch Hashulchan 696:2