BL74: Is your company ready for summer vacation

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Is Your Business Ready for Summer Vacation Time? Ask These 3 Questions

It's that time of year, when sunshine beckons. If you or your employees plan to take time off, now's a good time to assess your vacation policy.

May 21, 2019

By Barbara Weltman

It’s vacation time, for you and your employees. (Credit: Lance Asper on Unsplash)

In the next several weeks and months, employees will be taking time off from work for summer vacations.

According to a survey by Bankrate.com, about 38% of employees with paid vacation days plan to use them all this summer. Other findings:

• 59% plan to use more than half
• 5% plan to use less than 25% of their days
• 6% won’t use any time

Now is a good time to determine what your company’s needs will be this summer. Also, given the tight job market, it’s a good time to assess your vacation policy.

Here are three questions to ask:

1. Have you planned for a reduced work staff?

Determine what will need to be done during the time when you/employees are off. Do what’s possible in advance. For me, this always means working double time for weeks in advance to satisfy the work deadlines that fall during my vacation. If possible, discuss with customers and clients about scheduling work after your/your employees’ vacations.

Employees in your company may or may not fall within the survey’s findings mentioned earlier. Make sure you’re covered for any problems that need to be addressed while you are away. This can be done by giving an employee added responsibilities.

Also, see that employees can cover for each other when needed. If necessary, hire temporary workers to fill in gaps in your staffing. With temporary workers, you pay the agency a fee for their services; they remain the employees of the agency. Summer interns may be helpful too.

2. What’s your vacation policy?

How many vacation days do you offer? Federal law does not mandate that you give any paid time off, but you’d be hard-pressed to hire and retain good workers without a paid vacation policy.