Thinking about, booking, and taking leave from work should be a pleasant experience but for many its fraught with drama.
In some workplaces it has become an annual bunfight for the most sought-after dates. In others it’s the idea that some members of staff need outweigh others.
If that’s not stressful enough, there’s the huge cost disparities of travelling at different times of the year, and then when the exodus has happened the lone member of staff left to hold the fort for weeks.
Then there’s those who don’t think it’s worth taking time off because of what they will find when they get back, or worse still they take their work with them!
So how can we take the stress and drama out of the holidays:
Plan your breaks.
Plan and book your leave in advance wherever possible. Leaving everything to the last minute is fine if you don’t mind when you take time off or have complete flexibility.
Be Considerate.
This one should go without saying but it really isn’t all about you! Everyone has different and unique circumstances, so parent or singleton, we all need to have our needs met. So, if you’re the person who always books Christmas and New Year off in your office first, every year, so no one else can, how about rotating the most sought-after dates so everyone gets a chance? Take some time to think about other’s needs as well as yours. If we all do that the holiday juggle becomes a little easier.
Make sure you have adequate cover.
No one wants to be run ragged, manning the whole office after the summer exodus, or come back to 500 emails after they get back from leave. Holiday charts are tried, tested and work. You can see very quickly who in your team is going to be away and plan leave and cover accordingly.
Take your leave.
I am always horrified by the number of people I coach who do not take annual leave or end up losing leave every year. Burnout rates are soaring and that’s down to three things, increasingly blurred or poor work like balance, not prioritising our wellbeing which for most people is not taking enough time and space for themselves, and not having enough regular breaks – in our workdays or as leave. Not taking your annual leave is like handing back your salary to your boss (who would do that?). Or taking days off your life due the stress you are putting on your body. Take your annual leave – you will be better off mentally emotionally and physically for it.
Be Compassionate.
The cost-of-living crisis has had far reaching consequences for all of us – on childcare costs, on our ability to take holidays, and for some on the number of hours they have to work. Having adequate childcare has always been challenging and is even tougher for many parents now. Even with the best planning sometimes things go wrong, so when it does, be compassionate. In the same vein, as a parent there is an even greater need to plan and be organised. I know it takes a village to bring up a child, but you will find that village is more open to supporting you if you are being as organised as you can and not relying on the village to do that for you!
If you are away – be away!
None of us is indispensable – NONE OF US! None of us is so important, or our work so important that we can’t take time off and switch off- completely. No checking emails, messages or checking in with the office. We have created a society and way of living and being where we are never off. The escalating mental health crisis and burnout rates are the consequences. This one starts at the top. If you are a boss or manager who models or even celebrates this behaviour - STOP.
You are damaging your workforce and in doing that ultimately your bottom line. Health and wellbeing initiatives are all very well but only have value and create lasting change if the cultures we all work in support us. When you are on leave, be on leave - out of range, out of contact, having a break – you’ve earned it and will be more effective for it.
When your employees are on leave ensure they do the same. You will all reap the benefits – personally and professionally. If as an organisation you want to reduce sick leave, increase wellbeing, improve staff retention and loyalty – start here. Everything else, including a better bottom line will follow.
If you can be flexible – be flexible.
If you are a free spirit, are unencumbered and can take your leave whenever you like, you are a godsend to every business! Keep being the amazing person you are and fit your leave in around everyone else’s. If you are lucky enough to have a ‘gem’ like that in your office, don’t take advantage of them. They a rare and precious commodity, so make sure they are getting what they need too!
The bottom line is we all want to get away from it all, relax and recharge. To do that effectively, we all need to take better care of and be more compassionate about each other’s needs. The more we can do that, the more our holidays will be what they are meant to be - time to just relax, enjoy and be!
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