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. There are many good reasons to choose to get a vaccine , but the most important one is that . This isn't unusual. Research shows that, thanks to remote work, we're spending an average. More employees began requesting vacations in June, but they pulled back again in mid-July July as virus cases roared back, according to Zenefits, a San Francisco-based benefits provider. Creating a COVID-19 vaccination policy is just the first stepnext you need to communicate the details to your employees. This is especially helpful in getting high performers or those gunning for a promotion to take vacation time. Tip#4: Ease any concerns about finishing your projects on time. Implement rollover limits. Model time away, standardize. Here are five reasons to encourage your employees to take a vacation. 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. This approach is common for groups with regularly recurring busy periods, like sales teams that are expected to close in Q4. ", The request for employees to take vacation "was met with unbridled appreciation," he said, adding that "acknowledgment is important to people.". We need to refuel early and often. How can you encourage employees to take vacation days? 26+ SAMPLE Forced and Mandatory Leave Templates in PDF | MS Word Especially amid uncertainty, many people might not feel secure about their jobs and will require extra encouragement from their managers before trusting theyre safe while getting some respite. Employees need to feel that their organization understands work-life balance and that they are encouraged to take time away from the office. Dear Valued Customer, We are beyond grateful for your continued support and loyalty to our brand and services. Employees who take time off come to work with a positive mindset and charged to take on challenges. Here is a template you can use when structuring your email: Subject: [type of leave] request - [your name] Dear [employer's name], I would like to request [number of days or weeks] leave days that start from [date] and end on [date]. How Companies Can Encourage Employees to Use Their Vacation Time. Employees accrue 15 days of vacation for the first year of employment and 20 days of vacation each year after the first year. Estimated Read Time: 4 minutes. Earn badges to share on LinkedIn and your resume. Let them know that, Its time to make it a habit for your employees to unplug from work often, taking into account their, One of the most important things you can do to ensure that your employees are able to enjoy their time off is to create company, Encouraging your employees to take vacations. How to Tell an Employee to Take a Leave | Small Business - Chron 'We understand you can't travel. But, according to Balsamiq founder Giacomo Guilizzoni, "It instills an opposite kind of guilt: If I don't take my 20 days I will set a bad example for my team." Make unlimited vacation time work You can also use these meetings as an opportunity to motivate your employees to take a break by explaining how important it is for their health and productivity. We are keen to hear your thoughts on the best way to motivate everyone in the workplace to get involved with our drive to be more energy efficient. 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). It's hard to strike the right balance between informing staff of the facts and sharing the protective measures your business is taking without sowing fear or anxiety . We know it can be difficult to remember, especially when youre in the middle of a busy day, but taking small breaks throughout the day will actually help keep you and your employees feeling energized, happy and inspired. Improving the quality of your break room gives employees the feeling that they are a valuable asset to the company and their overall happiness is essential. For more info on handling staff leave, check out our articles on: Our customers tell us what makes them tick. But companies should encourage their employees to take and enjoy time off in order to promote employee wellness, happiness, and productivity in the workplace. It gives both the employee and employer time for review. Ensure there is appropriate cover. Be Happy to Help: You need to encourage staff members to use their PTO. Make sure your message is clear. Long Vacation Message. Not to mention that according to SHRM, when employees take PTO, they're often more productive and exhibit lower stress and better mental health. Some businesses may close down for a week or two at a certain time of the year, and that period is everyone's . That also means that they're responsible for getting that work done and coordinating with other team members to make that happen. Instead, you can rely on Timetastic a staff leave software that keeps you updated on who needs time off and gives your team an easy way to book their holidays. How to get employees to take vacation - Recruiting Resources: How to "Then you know what they have planned, and you can encourage them to follow up on it and take the time off.". If You're in HR, Send this Email About Coronavirus to Staff - Workest Meanwhile, vacation requests fell roughly 50 percent during the initial months of the pandemic. Use imagery around the office. Thank you for being YOU! to. A vacation leave letter is a written request from employees to their company asking for approval for time off. Subject: letter to encourage employees to take vacations. Even if your company doesnt offer paid time off, encouraging employees to put down their phones and computers for even just one day a week will be beneficial for their health and productivity. Please log in as a SHRM member before saving bookmarks. With people understandably fearful about their employment, employers need to set up and give people the mental break they need. This is an easy way to help your employees unplug, refocus, and enjoy themselves. Otherwise, youre heading for burnout and thats bad for everyone. 11+ Vacation Policy Examples - PDF, Word. You have been a hard-working and sincere employee to our team; you have worked for so long without taking any half-day or leave. Informal vacation request email Subject: Vacation request June 1-15 Hi Jean, I'd like to request vacation time from Monday, June 1st through Tuesday the 15th. SHRM's HR Knowledge Advisors offer guidance and resources to assist members with their HR inquiries. $(document).ready(function () { Vacations are necessary to help you re-charge and be your best in the office. 7 Reasons to encourage employees to take time off Tip#3: Be sure to use the word "because" when explaining your reasons. Encourage holiday talk in your company. If you have any questions about your leave balance, or how to book leave, please reach out to your manager. With nowhere to go and much to adjust to, most people have cancelled not only their travel reservations but their time off as well. If we take time away from work to recharge and reconnect with loved ones, we can return to work ready to approach our work with energy and purpose. It's important to start having conversations about holiday plans with staff now, even if it's just small talk about how they plan to take a break before the end of the year, MirrorCoop's Linden said. But do your employees? Generally, there's no formal consequences for not using your mandatory vacation time. 5 ways to encourage staff to take annual leave. Sending it in the morning leaves time for your coworkers to get any clarification before you leave. The reason for this leave request is purely due to medical reasons. This will help ensure that your employees use their paid time off and dont miss out on valuable benefits. We are so happy to have you back at the Sunshine House. 3. Need help with a specific HR issue like coronavirus or FLSA? There are a lot of stressors now and our biggest concern is our employees becoming burned out. Learn if they are planning any fun trips, and remind them to book their vacation as far in advance as possible so you can be ready for it. To get all of HBRs content delivered to your inbox, sign up for the Daily Alert newsletter. The best paid time off tracking software (3 options), The best vacation tracking software (2 options), The best annual leave calendar for your business, The best way to track employee time off: plus, 2 alternative methods. Second, you also get Timetastics Firewire, which is sent out quarterly to you and any department managers you have on your team. You should also include any rules on how many people from a team/the organisation can be away simultaneously. For example, if you are going on vacation next week but want to respond to emails while youre gone, consider using an auto-reply that says something like: I am currently out of the office on vacation until July 1st. Taking a break from work can be a great way to recharge and re-energize, but it can also do a lot for your mental and physical health. I'm saving my vacation time until Europe reopens!" My specific plans notwithstanding, my coworker's comments make sense. They can do this through their browser or through our mobile app anytime they want. 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. "This helps reassure the employee that they can truly take time off to relax with family without feeling guilty or stressing out about checking e-mail and phone messages.". How To Encourage Employees To Take Time Off And Recharge - Forbes Here are 12 ways you can proactively encourage employees to take time off work: Contents hide 1 Encourage Employees to Take a Digital Detox 2 Remind Employees about the Benefits of Taking Time Off 3 Do What You Preach 4 Make it a Habit to Unplug from Work Often 5 Create Company Holidays 6 Show Employees that Work-life Balance is Important Learn how SHRM Certification can accelerate your career growth by earning a SHRM-CP or SHRM-SCP. "With the holidays coming up, we'll continue to remind employees that taking time to recharge benefits everyone, and it will help them be in a better mindset for what will hopefully be a much less chaotic 2021," she said. First, when you use Timetastic, you get access to your teams Burnout Board. Be happy when employees book time off. Is the PTO benefit still competitive with other employers in the industry? Taking time off might seem like an unnecessary luxury given that we all have deadlines looming over our heads all day long; however, these breaks allow both employers and employees to get away from our desks so they can relax and come back refreshed when they return. 2. That is why I would encourage employees to take days off by recommending they spend time with their families. PDF Sample employee email to encourage them to get vaccinated Steve Pemberton, chief human resources officer at the company, which is co-headquartered in Dublin, Ireland, and Framingham, Mass. - John Lie-Nielsen, One Park Financial 5. Teams are feeling . Remind employees to schedule annual leave in advance Have an open talk with your employees about their unused annual leave. Why you should encourage staff to take annual leave You have always been a very loyal, hard-working, and passionate employee of our team (mention the details), and you have worked for a long time without taking any type of leaves. Your session has expired. 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. How to Encourage Your Team to Use Employee Vacation Time 1. If our content helps you to contend with coronavirus and other challenges, please consider subscribing to HBR. Drew Gieseke is an aPHR-certified marketing professional who writes about HR, compliance, and healthcare solutions. Sample email. The PMQ teaches managers to lead effectively, giving HR more time to meet the demands of the workplace. Many HR professionals across the country are struggling with how to convince employees to take vacation. Sometimes, it's also about finding ways to encourage employees to take well-deserved time off. Asking employees to take a mandatory leave of absence can give both the employer and employee time to evaluate. Consider providing informal time off, increasing caps on maximum vacation accrual, and encouraging people to take breaks. Knowing who on your team is at risk of burnout or who has a lot of leave left to use is a huge win. What Is the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act (PWFA). "[Time off] is the most emotional benefit we have. If you're like most Americans, it's likely been a while, as 55% of workers don't use all their paid time off. But if you dont use it by the end of the year, [DD/MM/YY], then your time off will reset for the new year. Back in early May, executives at The Insurance Market were worried that numerous employees were canceling their summer vacations. 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. Leave request email template. Managers, Encourage Your Team to Take Time Off - Harvard Business Review Thank you for being a great leader. To help businesses, Paycor is offering businesses a sample communication letter sharing your vaccination policy. What Can Employers Do to Require or Encourage Workers to Get a - KFF Your session has expired. By providing a modest assortment of refreshments, snack options, and kitchen appliances, you'll make sure your employees feel like a critical part of the team. You can reach me at [alternate contact info]. Set the example for your employees Discuss the days you will be taking off and encourage your team to do the same. Some fear that taking time off may make them appear less dedicated or essential, attributes that no one wants to project amid layoffs across many industries. Encouraging to take time off is one of the most important things that you can do for your employees. If you miss the odd day, the world won't implode, but if people don't know you're away for a few weeks and they don't know exactly when you'll be back, or who they can contact in your place, you're going to have some unhappy clients or customers. Others are more likely to follow when company policies express and your behaviors demonstrate what you most value. Step 3 - Create your direction to take annual leave due to an excessive leave balance letter . Unfortunately, the time for booking your annual leave has passed. We help you make things easy for everyone by giving you two things in this article: Lets be honest: You shouldnt really need letter templates. If our content helps you to contend with coronavirus and other challenges, please consider, Unused vacations have cost U.S. businesses, women academics are publishing fewer papers. To minimize employees' lost days, 24 percent of companies are planning to increase carryover limits. 5 Reasons You Should Encourage Your Employees To Take Vacations How Will the Anti-Work Movement Impact Businesses? How to write a MEMO for employee to clear annual leave? - Ask Me Fast Take a stand against this trend of all work and little play. The disparity in working conditions is becoming evident in the yield of work based on individual work-from-home circumstances. Education, taking time and truly respecting boundaries are essential to support an employee experience focused on well-being, thriving, inclusion and balance. Restored leave still remaining to the employee's credit at the end of this period will be forfeited without the right to further restoration. Sample Welcome Back Letter From Sick Leave. Yet, few employees feel comfortable taking the time off they need, especially as travel plans and other vacations are cancelled. HR circular format for employees are very helpful in this situation. For small teams, granting PTO requests while maintaining an effective workforce is a big challenge, especially around federal holidays like Thanksgiving and Christmas as well as other religious holidays like Hannukah. Please note that all such forms and policies should be reviewed by your legal counsel for compliance with applicable law, and should be modified to suit your organizations culture, industry, and practices.