It seems like everyone wants a few days off this time of year. Whether they’re traveling to visit family or having family come to visit them, everyone could use some time off. Unless you’re a scrooge you’re probably onboard with trying to accommodate vacation requests. This can quickly become a scheduling nightmare. Depending on what business you’re in, things may be a little bit slower as the holidays approach or you could be working overtime. Regardless of which end of the spectrum you’re on, one thing remains the same. Your business needs to be adequately staffed to meet the needs of your customers.
As we mentioned in a previous post there a number of software solutions that can help you solve your employee scheduling issues. Several of the options even allow employees to find their own substitutes, removing the burden from your shoulders entirely. What if your employees are all salaried? Scheduling software isn’t going to help in this situation. The important thing is to weigh the needs of your company against your employees’ wishes. Yes, you need to have enough staff to keep the company going regardless of what the calendar says, but denying vacation requests can destroy employee morale and may even encourage staffers to consider looking for work elsewhere.
If you have followed our series on process mapping you already have a clear view of your how your business functions on a day to day basis. Now take into consideration how the holiday season affects your operations. Will you be busier? Less busy? Determine what your staffing needs are based on your predictions. Next, look for ways to share duties so that tasks can be covered even when the person who is usually responsible for that job is away from the office. Even employees who aren’t requesting days off may need to leave early, come in late or just take a long lunch to run errands this time of year. Having backup coverage can allow them to do the things they’d like without compromising the needs of your business.
Being able to say “yes” is always a good feeling. Saying “yes” to those all important vacation requests this time of year will make your employees really happy as well. We said many times how important employee retention is. Planning ahead for the holiday season can put you in a great position to be able to grant the requests you receive. Even if you aren’t able to say yes to each and every vacation request that is submitted there are still things you can do to keep your employees happy. Offer them extra time off after the holidays. Prepare a special breakfast, lunch, snack or other in-office treat to make their time at work a little more enjoyable. Remember to say “Thanks!” Being appreciated, especially when you feel as though you have made a sacrifice to do your job, can go a long way towards improving employee morale.
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