Monday 2 July 2012

Keep your Employees Happy. And Reap the Benefits!

Over the past decade, holidays have become part of the ‘working life’ of individuals. Indeed, a lot of importance is being played upon the need for employees to take some time off to unwind themselves and, as many say, ‘shut off’ from the overly laden schedules around which our lives centers. Sometimes, employees take a one- or two-week holiday every year or two.


This may not sound as pleasant to the employers, managers and HR personnel, who have to duly plan their own scheduling and allocate work to ensure the overall smooth running of the company. Needless to say, a sound policy and plan for scheduling holidays is vital if your company is to succeed. Research shows that companies that allow their employees to go on holiday without too much havoc, actually manage to retain their team members while ensuring adequate staffing levels.




So, how should you approve holiday requests diligently and possibly without having to worry too much? Here are some tips to help you devise a win-win holiday schedule—from which both you and your employees benefit.


1.         Keep in mind that it is YOUR policy
If you want your employees to know what the holiday scheduling system is, and that it is, really, a fair one, they need to be able to see the policy. New employees in particular should be introduced to the policy, outlining rules on when they can and can not take vacation, what notices are required, and how notice should be given. A handbook could be distributed to employees including in a particular section this policy.


2.         Know when to go
Since most employees plan their holiday well ahead of time, you should let them know equally well beforehand what the ideal time(s) to take time off would be. For some businesses, holiday weeks are the best times for workers to take leave, as business is slow. But for others (particularly retail), holidays can be nightmarishly busy.


3.        Don't object
This is one of those moments where it’s wise to be ‘hands off’. One of the biggest objections regarding holiday schedulinging is the employees' feelings that the management chooses sides. If you want to be fair, stick to your policy, and allow your employees to work out the rest on their own. Only intervene if it becomes absolutely necessary.


4.         What about setting deadlines?
Establish a reasonable deadline for holiday requests. This will give you time to plan ahead and find other workers to replace or to whom you can give the workload. However, if a vacation is short and sure not to cause any problems, you would be unwise not to approve it. This may get employees to think twice about their happiness levels at work.


5.         Keep confidentiality
For whatever reason your employee needs a holiday (an employees' grandparents' gold wedding anniversary, or an employee getting married), you should not judge as to which is more important. It is your duty to keep confidentiality, especially if the employee has made it a point not to share it with the others.


While we hope that these tips will do their trick that will keep your employees happy, remember to take time to plan YOUR own well-deserved holiday. We wish you a happy summer holiday!


Nikita Pisani @ Muovo

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