Covid Impacted Holidays - First come first serve is not appropriate

This is the time of year where HR walk into a meeting and highlight how many holidays are outstanding. There are also some subtle patronizing comments on how poor you all are at managing your team. Just the 'pick up' you need as your entering year end. Equal to that motivational spreadsheet is your panic wondering how you're going to manage a business with half your team on holiday. The reality is that it is common place and yes, you are poor at managing your holidays. Businesses lose sight of holiday management and unfortunately there is no silver bullet.

Outside of a world pandemic businesses generally carry over a portion of holiday to the following financial year with a caveat. Through the current pandemic there are over 95% of businesses with over 90% untaken holiday. This is a worrying figure considering balance sheets, furlough, profits and a need to continue to safely operate.

The good news is that employees may be able to carry over untaken leave into the next 2 years if they cannot take it due to their work being affected by coronavirus. However, do not exhale too quickly. Recognising that holiday management is not your strongest skill, this will take some extra effort to get this right. Remember, the longer you wait the more your team will accrue.

One thing is for sure, the lockdown will lift very soon. Your team will need and will deserve a very normal holiday. One where they are able to mix with others. One where they will be able to venture out and celebrate like we used to, and one where they can finally forget the pain they have had to go through in the last year. I heard someone mention on LinkedIn recently that holidays are being booked up, but it will be on a first come first serve basis. Take this rule and think about it for one minute. What if you had an employee that was restricted by hospital visits or caring responsibilities. What if you had an employee who had children and were restricted by extended schooling from the impact of the coronavirus. What would happen if their holiday window was too small. This is where the common practice of 'First come, first serve' is a lazy, uncaring and unsympathetic rule.

Take some time to think about this Summer. It makes a whole lot of difference when you are trying your best get every one of your team on a summer holiday. I would request every employee puts in their request windows. When can they take holiday and how long would they like. Even if this is not 100% possible, the gesture is paramount and you'll be surprised how many of your team help other members.

I'll forget what you did, I'll forget what you said, but I'll never forget how you made me feel. If you want to build a culture, start loving your people.