Behind every successful team is a group of engaged and highly-performing people. But even the most hardworking staff members also need to pause and recharge. 

It’s easy to assume that operations will suffer when people go on vacation. But that is not the case. According to Project: Time Off, 78% of bosses surveyed agree that taking a vacation helps improve employee focus, and 81% believe that going on holiday can alleviate burnout. Businesses can still operate even when some members of the staff take time-offs, and actually makes people more productive when they resume work. 

If you’re handling a team, here are some tips to keep a balance between operations and letting people take time-offs. 

Account for leave entitlements based on labour laws

By law, employees are entitled to leaves. The amount of time-offs they’re legally allowed to take are based on the type of employment and local regulations. 

Leave calculators offer an easy and straightforward way to calculate leave balances. Tanda has a free leave calculator both for employees and employers, with calculations based on Fair Work’s National Employment Standards (NES). 

Encourage your people to really go on holiday

Employee time off is not just about labour compliance. It’s also caring for your employees. While business is important, it’s unhealthy for the staff to be always-on.

However, encouraging people to take a break goes beyond providing paid leave benefits. It also has something to do with culture and how the organisation perceives and deals with holidays. 

In the same research from Project: Time-Off, employees see paid vacation as the second most important benefit. However, they found that most workers are not using the benefit entirely. It’s different when employees hear that they’re entitled to take paid vacation leaves—and when managers push for it. It’s crucial for staff to feel that there’s no shame in going on break. If they don’t see co-workers intentionally taking personal time-off, they are less likely to take leaves themselves.

Create a workplace culture where taking breaks is not frowned upon. It’s important to establish an environment where business can still be productive even when some people are on leave. Also, avoid contacting an employee while they are on time-off. This will help set healthy boundaries and cultivate an environment of respect for each other’s time.

Set an efficient process for filing and managing leaves

The first step is to simplify the leave application process. Provide a way for Australian employees to easily apply for leaves and for managers to approve or decline requests promptly. Additionally, you must eliminate processes that are prone to miscommunication and response delays. 

When staff go on vacation, it’s essential to plan and account for the days they’re not around and see how operations will be affected. Set a window of time for filing planned leaves, so you can prepare ahead, cover all your bases, and adjust schedules when necessary. 

There are a lot of factors involved in handling leaves. That’s why it pays to go for a solution that streamlines the process. Tanda’s leave management system enables you to manage shifts in one platform. It provides a simple way for staff to apply for leaves and for managers to view and approve requests. It also automatically updates rosters and timesheets, helping ensure adequate staff and easier tracking for payroll. Additionally, you can set up custom events that lets people know when it’s not advisable to take leaves, especially during peak seasons or when there’s an on-going promotion. 

Have a fundamental set of factors for approving leaves. As much as you would want to say yes to all leave requests, there may be instances when you would need to decline. To help you decide, consider factors like an employee’s leave history or the reason for the time-off request. Should you need to say no, communicate why you can’t approve the application for now, reach a compromise, and move it at a different time. 

When it comes to managing leaves, it’s essential to communicate openly to affirm employees that you prioritise and respect their need to go on break. 

It’s good business practice to invest in your people. Part of that is allowing them to take time-offs to rest or tend to immediate matters outside of work. Manage leaves more efficiently with a platform that simplifies filing and approval of time-off requests. See how Tanda’s leave management feature can help you effectively stay on top of staff availability and make sure all shifts are covered even when other staff are on vacation. Give it a try today. No credit card required.