There aren’t too many people in our offices today. Are there many employees at your place of work today? Actually, let us preface that question with another question: Are you at work today? If so, are you being productive?

There aren’t too many people in our offices today. Are there many employees at your place of work today?

Actually, let us preface that last question with another question: Are you at work today? And are you actually accomplishing your work? Or is your mind preoccupied with tomorrow’s promise of kabobs, ribs, sunlight, family and friends?

Thanks to the quirks of the calendar, July 4 this year falls on a Tuesday. If you’re like most people, you’d prefer to have today off and make it a four-day weekend for the Fourth of July. Today, July 3, is an unofficial holiday for those who managed to wrangle the time off to piggyback onto July 4. If you are reading this story in slippers at home…congratulations, you’re of the minority.

Alas, for more than half the companies around the U.S., today is a normal business day and workers are expected to show up to the office.

A national survey of 100 human resources executives by outplacement firm Challenger, Gray & Christmas found that a mere one in four companies are offering today off to reward workers a four-day weekend. More than 56 percent said their companies would be observing normal business hours.

“I am sure that more companies would love to give all their workers the day off, but unfortunately, global commerce does not stop, and for many companies, even one extra day of not operating can put them behind competitively,” said John A. Challenger, the firm’s chief executive.

About 30 percent of businesses will be closed today, with another 5 percent saying they would open but have shorter working hours. Two percent will have skeleton crews to answer phones, receive packages and perform other nominal services.

Those are the lucky ones.

Retailers are a prime example of the unlucky ones. If you work in retail, you’re fortunate if you get July 4 off, let alone July 3. For example, J.C. Penney stores are open throughout the holiday. Indeed, the Fourth of July is a sales opportunity for retailers, reports the National Retail Federation.

Other employers couldn’t shut down today even if they wanted to, due to the nature of their business. The Federal Reserve, for example, prohibits banks from closing for more than three days in a row.

And companies operating essential services, such as those in customer service, will be open as well.

Yet, just because your office is open doesn’t mean that work will be done. Clearly it’s a day when many people try to take an extra day of vacation and extend the weekend. Further, human nature what it is, those who do have to go into the office today likely will not have their minds completely on their work. That, says Challenger’s international consulting firm, could mean a drop in productivity for companies that decided not to make this an official four-day weekend.

The chances are high that workers will not be very productive on Monday, according to Challenger. “Those who were not quick enough to request the day off may be less productive that day, seeing it as a day to take it easy,” he said. And a day to look forward to tomorrow.

So this July 3 is kinda like the day before Christmas. But instead of looking forward to pine trees, presents and eggnog tomorrow, those of us working will look forward to tomorrow’s promise of fireworks, barbecues and beer.

That will have many companies wondering if they are going to make enough money today to offset the costs associated with normal daily operations, Challenger said.

“Turning on lights and computers, making coffee, and running the air conditioning at normal strength all cost money…so companies have to ask themselves if they are going to make enough money to offset the costs associated with normal daily operations,” he said.

The way some companies see it, however, having today off is essential to replenishing workers’ energy. In fact, Challenger said the companies not giving workers the day off are missing out on a way to create good will and boost morale. That means more than half of U.S. employers are “missing out” this year.

Then again, between BlackBerrys and cell phones and quick access to the Internet nearly everywhere you go, links to the office are easily provided. Even if you’re off today and you’re far away from the office geographically, you’re never really too far away.

So we ask: Are you at the office like us? Are you, in fact, working (i.e., productive) like us? Or are you reading this barefoot in a lounge chair at home or in flip-flops on the patio beside the grill? Let us know. We’re kind of lonely here on this altogether quiet office floor.

To those of you who are at work today but who are not really working, per se, here is a productivity enhancer.

And another one.

And to both those at work and those at home, enjoy your Fourth of July!!! Let us know what your plans are. We’ll see you when you get back.