4 Simple Tricks to Help Plan for Employee Holidays and Vacation Requests

1. Know Your Slow Periods and Make the Most of Them

Especially if your business is a seasonal one, it may be a good idea to implement a policy that requires employees to use at least some of their vacation time during the slow months.  Conversely it may also be prudent to consider limiting the use of vacation time during the busy periods.

2. Handle Multiple Time Off Requests with a Policy

Plan ahead for those times when multiple employees will be submitting time off requests during various business holidays.  Many businesses will simply go with a standard FIFO order. First In First Out.  The first employee to submit the requests gets priority for example.  There are many different approaches, but choose one ahead of time to avoid conflicts if at all possible.

3. Discuss Holidays During Hiring and On-boarding

Have the Holiday conversation with employees as early as possible.  Inform them of the seasonal demands the business faces.  As well as such critical items such as the above mentioned restrictions on certain holidays being used as vacation time.

4. Avoid Employee Stress by Planning Responsibilities

Do not allocate too many responsibilities to a single employee because someone has gone on vacation. Ensure to spread the responsibilities out so that no single person is taking on the majority of the missing person’s workload.  Also be certain that everyone involved has access to all resources they will need ahead of time.