Various studies show that the current environment is taking a toll on employees' mental health and fueling workers' reticence about taking time off. Gain the intel you need now to successfully anticipate and navigate employment laws, stay compliant and mitigate legal risks. It doesn't have to be outside their home, where they can get infected, but within the boundaries of their home where they can bond with one another. Follow this simple memo to staff on . Employees receive their allotted PTO at the beginning of the calendar year. Need help with a specific HR issue like coronavirus or FLSA? 5 ways to encourage staff to take annual leave. Suggest shorter breaks more often, rather than weeklong vacations. Consider providing informal time off, increasing caps on maximum vacation accrual, and encouraging people to take breaks. 1) all the projects you recently finished or are currently working on. It outlines the employee's intended days off and their plan for coverage at work. Due to the sluggish economy, employees hesitate to take time off, and/or do not disconnect 100% while on vacation, often checking in once a day or scanning emails.Failing to take vacation days can result in higher levels of stress and greater levels of disengagement at work. The Laurel, Del.-based insurance agency has a "use it or lose it" policy and didn't want its 38 employees to forgo paid time off (PTO), even if they couldn't get away to their usual vacation haunts due to the pandemic. We need to refuel early and often. They considered creating a vacation bank that would accept donations of employees' unused PTO that could be tapped by colleagues facing extraordinary circumstances, but that was found to be too complicated to administer. Lisa Rabasca Roepe is a freelance writer based in Arlington, Va. You have successfully saved this page as a bookmark. By starting from a place of care and concern for your workforce you reinforce the maxim that people are your strongest asset and that youre there for them in good times and bad, regardless of their individual circumstances. Tami Wolownik, human resources head at Siemens Mobility, North America, a transportation consulting firm in Alpharetta, Ga., suggests that managers encourage employees to take a day or two off to focus on family; provide caregiving; volunteer; engage in self-care and hobbies; or do traditional holiday activities such as wrapping presents, decorating their homes or baking cookies. Here's how you can encourage your employees to take their vacation time this year, even if it's only a staycation: Set an example. You can reach me at [alternate contact info]. Encourage managers to set an example by utilizing their vacation time. "People don't have a lot of control right now, and they are trying to control what they can.". This is just a friendly reminder that, as of [DD/MM/YY], you have a remaining leave balance of [X DAYS / X HOURS]. This program has been very successful in encouraging actual vacation time, which helps our people come back well-rested and ready to continue on our mission. One way to encourage employees to take some time off is to have one-on-one meetings with them and discuss the importance of taking a break and enjoying some time off. But if youre always putting in extra time because that project needs to be on timeor because theres too much work left over from last weekthen this will send the message that its okay for them not to take any personal days and just keep going without sleep or relaxation. Helping Startups/ It Companies/ and Small Businesses to Enhance Their Business Through Branding and Marketing Ideas. $("span.current-site").html("SHRM MENA ");
How does employee seniority impact PTO benefits? Subject: letter to encourage employees to take vacations. Make sure your message is clear. Using this circular for declaring holiday format, you can write leave circular for your own company. Be an example by taking and enjoying time off yourself. 2. Thank you for being a great leader. But how can they do that if they dont know how to disconnect from work? Many companies are encouraging employees to take off half days, a day in the middle of the week, or a Monday or Friday to extend the weekend. Its very important that our employees stay balanced in their life. To make sure that you use your annual leave before the end of the year, were writing to inform you that you will be on mandatory leave from [START DATE] to [END DATE]. HR and managers may find that employees have questions about their time-off benefits throughout the year, including if they can use PTO during their two weeks notice and if employers have the right to turn down time-off requests. Otherwise, theyll burn out quickly (and possibly quit). Managers at HealthJoy are encouraged to talk with staff about their own planned time off, including sharing what they're looking forward to during their time away, Wilsonsaid. When anyone on your team logs into Timetastic, theyll see their Wallchart: Their Wallchart tells them who has approved time off on the calendar, along with their own leave balance, so they can see how much leave they still have left to use. Employees need to feel that their organization understands work-life balance and that they are encouraged to take time away from the office. Suddenly, a majority of people within an organization want to take time off. You know who hasnt taken enough time off, and you dont have to trawl through spreadsheets to find out, since its delivered directly to you. Several of my clients executives and managers, along with their human resource partners are increasingly seeking guidance on how to unplug and recharge and encourage their employees to do the same. The current crisis is creating more urgency and more work. A company's leaders ultimately need to set the tone for the company's vacation policy. If employees are constantly connected to their colleagues and the office, theyre more likely to feel like they need to be at their desks answering emails and taking calls. Please do not hesitate to reach out with any questions or concernsI look forward to hearing from you soon!. Each and every employee of an organization work hard day and night every single day to produce the exact results that the corporation wants and make sure that the reputation of the organization always remains clean and only achievements are what that the organization gets. Finally, employers can simply remind employees to take their time off before the end of the year. This helps reduce the risk of burnout, and it helps reduce any stress your team may feel as the year comes to a close and everyone on your staff is trying not to lose their holiday time. By involving the entire team, you make taking breaks part of the culture along with supporting and being generous with each other. When you run a small business, it's hard to compete with the big guys in winning the war for talent. The point is, you now have the information on hand. HBR Learnings online leadership training helps you hone your skills with courses like Team Management. ". "[Time off] is the most emotional benefit we have. 3 templates for reminding your employees to take annual leave Template #1: Reminding your employee that the end of the year's approaching and their holiday time doesn't carry over Template #2: Informing your employee that they missed the cut-off for taking their leave (and explaining how your carry-over policy works) Dear [RECIPIENT'S NAME], This approach is common for groups with regularly recurring busy periods, like sales teams that are expected to close in Q4. When I take time off, I make sure I don't send emails or attempt advance work forward. They will follow suit if they see that you put in your fair share of hours at work. As health officials urge everyone to stay close to home and limit contact with people outside their households during the winter holidays to stop the spread of the coronavirus, many workers are reluctant to use their PTOeven after they postponed summer vacation plans. 2. Paid time off is part of your compensation. }
In this section, we show how Timetastic, our staff leave app, helps your team take their holidays throughout the year. Many have rediscovered activities within their immediate reach. Noticing that managers are deluding themselves about their own and team members productivity, I surveyed clients and heard back from 20 of them in companies ranging from startups to Fortune 30 and universities located across the U.S. With nowhere to go and much to adjust to, most people have cancelled not only their travel reservations but their time off as well. Format #1. Even though staff taking holiday can be disruptive in the short term, encouraging staff to book annual leave actually holds many benefits to employers in the long run: Cut stress & burnout, and improve productivity. Encouraging employees getting fresh air and exercise during work hours through outdoor breaks or fitness classes held onsite (many companies offer these types of perks). This works out to a monthly accrual of 1.25 vacation days during the first year and 1.6667 vacation days per month after the first year. They can do this through their browser or through our mobile app anytime they want. On his next half day off, he plans to go for a bike ride and camp on his deck with his daughters. This will help ensure that your employees use their paid time off and dont miss out on valuable benefits. We set very clear performance metrics with our employees and allow them flexibility in accomplishing those goals. Yet, few employees feel comfortable taking the time off they need, especially as travel plans and other vacations are cancelled. You can reach me at [alternate contact info]. This combination pushed the company to send an e-mail to its 600 employees last month asking each of them to take five days of vacation before the end of August, said From dress code to time off, my team follows the tone set by the leader. Consider the following scenarios HR may face during the holiday season: PTO tools with at-a-glance calendars allow for easier staffing decisions, but other employers still may want to audit and update their time off policy to save resources in the long run. We were worried about you during your absence, and I speak for everyone here when I say that we are all thankful for your quick recovery. Here are a few samples to help you draft the perfect vacation request letter. In these difficult times, weve made a number of our coronavirus articles free for all readers. Vacation Request Email to Boss Sample: 4 Examples Holiday Request Letter to Manager: 4 Templates Annual Leave Letter: 4 Templates Leave Extension Letter Example: 4 Templates Holiday Request Letter example: 4 Templates Engineer Farewell Letter: 28 templates Leave of Absence Letter Template: 4 Emails Leave Application Confirmation Letter: 4 Templates This isn't unusual. hbspt.cta._relativeUrls=true;hbspt.cta.load(131307, '070b3b46-9e86-40d1-85c0-17bd895480dc', {"useNewLoader":"true","region":"na1"}); Crafting and following a comprehensive onboarding checklist ensures a consistent, As the cost of living continues to rise around the country, many employeesespecially HR professionals play an indispensable role within an organization. For example, include information about the notice required in advance of a holiday and how much notice is required to refuse a holiday request. Smith speculated that employees didn't see the point in taking time off when they were working from home just to stay at home. When people arent taking their leave, it can be for several reasons, including: Thankfully, there is a better way using a staff leave app that makes it easy for you to see who needs a holiday and makes it easier for them to book it. If you have any questions, please contact [contact]. Members may download one copy of our sample forms and templates for your personal use within your organization. All of my survey participants said it was important to take time off, but many were personally reluctant to unplug. Moreover, vacations can also help employees stay healthy by encouraging them to exercise and eat better habits. }
But these templates really just help you organise your thoughts. Managers might also consider reducing the number of meetings around the holidays, or making Mondays and Fridays meeting-free days from Thanksgiving until the end of the year to encourage employees to extend their weekends. Leave request email template. (Campaign Monitor,2019) 3. To help employees feel comfortable taking time off, its important to set up an out-of-office reply that promotes relaxation. We encourage team members to take a minimum of 3 weeks (15 work days) of vacation time throughout the year, in addition to the holidays (bank, religious or otherwise) you choose to observe. But encouraging your employees to use their time off is a win for you and for them. Team members of some of my clients try things theyve never done, just to infuse novelty such as sketching or singing. For some companies, this situation might not prove difficult whatsoeverit's entirely possible that November and December are slow periods for plenty of employers. Here are five ways to encourage your employees to take a holiday leave: 1. Neither members nor non-members may reproduce such samples in any other way (e.g., to republish in a book or use for a commercial purpose) without SHRMs permission.