Managers, Remind Your Team to Take Time Off | Lattice Take a stand against this trend of all work and little play. Not to mention that according to SHRM, when employees take PTO, theyre often more productive and exhibit lower stress and better mental health. And there are plenty of ways to do so. You want your employees to take a break from their work and enjoy the world outside. Talk through these fears and encourage them to use vacation time to spend more time with their families or to lay by the pool as a way to relax and unwind. "It is important for all of us to step away from time to time and come back to work refreshed and revitalized," Chancellor Rebecca Blank says. Dear [Name of Manager], I would like to request for one week of leave from [DATE] to [DATE]. The PMQ teaches managers to lead effectively, giving HR more time to meet the demands of the workplace. Some businesses may close down for a week or two at a certain time of the year, and that period is everyone's . Staff motivation email examples - Ergon Energy Limit vacation day rollovers. They dont solve the root of your problem, which is finding out who on your team hasnt taken leave and giving your team a really easy way to book their holiday. By giving your team the tools they need to see how much leave they have left to use, and book new requests, youre giving them what they need to take their holiday leave throughout the year. That is why I would encourage employees to take days off by recommending they spend time with their families. Companies need to ensure that they consider the rights and benefits of the employees whenever certain policies are planned, created and developed. How to request vacation days (Word-for-word email script) 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. 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. 3. Subject: letter to encourage employees to take vacations. This letter is to inform you on behalf of the company [mention the name of the company or the organization for which the letter is being written] that I, the [mention designation of the sender] of [mention name of the department], would like to encourage you, as our employee, to take a small leave for some days from your work. What is important is that they spend time with them, because they never know how long they have with their loved ones regardless if there is a pandemic. Please log in as a SHRM member. 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. "Managers who meet with their staff prior to them taking PTO can brainstorm with them about who in the company is best to take over each task, project or client while they're out," Handrick said. 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. 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. As a leader or HR professional, navigating how to go about asking employees to use their paid-time-off during these times can be a challenging task. For example, women academics are publishing fewer papers, presumably because of their disproportionate responsibility at home. Posted on August 4, 2021 Otherwise, theyll burn out quickly (and possibly quit). How To Compose a Vacation Request Email (With 3 Examples) By intentionally taking time off and fully disconnected from work, I signal to others that it's okay to do the same. "[Time off] is the most emotional benefit we have. You may want your employees to feel like theyre getting enough sleep, eating well, and exercisingand also having fun! If workers take 29% less vacation for the entire year, this translates into about $60B in additional accrued PTO liability. Next year, youll have [CARRY OVER AMOUNT + NEW YEAR AMOUNT] in holiday leave. "Encourage To Take Vacation" Letter to Employee: 4 Templates Company leaders thought it would be too expensive to allow employees to carry over time or pay them for unused vacation days. Once downloaded, you can customize the text . Explain the need for leave. How You Can Encourage Your Employees to Take Annual Leave - A Job Thing But if youre always putting in extra time because that project needs to be on timeor because theres too much work left over from last weekthen this will send the message that its okay for them not to take any personal days and just keep going without sleep or relaxation. var temp_style = document.createElement('style'); Tip#4: Ease any concerns about finishing your projects on time. One way to encourage employees to take some time off is to have one-on-one meetings with them and discuss the importance of taking a break and enjoying some time off. Encourage Employees to Take a Digital Detox, Remind Employees about the Benefits of Taking Time Off, Make it a Habit to Unplug from Work Often, Show Employees that Work-life Balance is Important, Send Monthly Vacation Balance Reminders to Employees, Have One-on-One Meetings With Employees to Encourage Them to Take Some Time Off, Provide Employees with Tools to Help them Unplug From Work, Set Up an Out-of-office Reply that Promotes Relaxation, Encourage them to Do Something Unproductive, Sample Email to Encourage Employees to Take Annual Leave, Incentives for doing so; i.e., discounts on gift cards, An official no phone zone at work that includes no cell phones or laptops allowed during certain hours of the day, A designated area in the office where people can go when they need some space away from their devices, When you work for a company, you probably know that taking time off is good for your health and well-being. Its not just our commute times that have been co-opted but also our vacations. I'm saving my vacation time until Europe reopens!" My specific plans notwithstanding, my coworker's comments make sense. Consider the following scenarios HR may face during the holiday season: PTO tools with at-a-glance calendars allow for easier staffing decisions, but other employers still may want to audit and update their time off policy to save resources in the long run. Brett is a #SHRM22Influencers and has also been a keynote speaker at several state SHRM conferences around the topic of employee engagement. How to Write Vacation Request Email (Samples) - The HR Digest 7 Reasons to encourage employees to take time off This was the concern one of my clients recently. if(currentUrl.indexOf("/about-shrm/pages/shrm-china.aspx") > -1) { A specified amount of time off can be allowed that must be taken in minimum increments of, for example, a week. According to WorldatWork, about $365B of PTO was accrued in 2019 across all companies and organizations in the US. Organizations that utilize a use it or lose it PTO approach may find HR overwhelmed by this careful balancing act during the holiday season. Review. } Be an example by taking and enjoying time off yourself. To request permission for specific items, click on the reuse permissions button on the page where you find the item. $('.container-footer').first().hide(); else if(currentUrl.indexOf("/about-shrm/pages/shrm-mena.aspx") > -1) { var currentUrl = window.location.href.toLowerCase(); Employees need to feel that their organization understands work-life balance and that they are encouraged to take time away from the office. This letter is to inform [mention the name of the person] from [mention the name of the company or the organization to which you are writing this letter] that I the [mention designation of yours] of [mention name of the company and the organization] would like to encourage you to take a vacation from your work for few days. (Campaign Monitor,2019) 3. Of this total, $210B was used and $155B was unused. Vacation leave letters may be addressed to your direct supervisor or the human resources department at your company. Sales may also be the job that needs time off the most. Here are five tactics that can make a difference: 1. Your Burnout Board highlights who on your team is overdue for a break: Your Burnout Board tells you how much time off someone has left to use, when the last time they took a day off was, and if they have any bookings coming up. Managers: Encourage employees to take vacation time If you sense that your employee is stressed out and just not telling you,. Employees need time to rest and enjoy themselves outside work. You have always been a diligent, hard-working, and loyal team employee (mention the details). Download Template : (pdf, docs, ODT, RTF, txt, HTML, Epub, Etc), Subject: Letter to Encourage Employees to Take Vacations. 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. Hi everyone. Vacation Leave Accruals & Carry-Over Reminder | Announcements If you're like most Americans, it's likely been a while, as 55% of workers don't use all their paid time off. Make booking leave from work easy. Helping Startups/ It Companies/ and Small Businesses to Enhance Their Business Through Branding and Marketing Ideas. Suggest shorter breaks more often, rather than weeklong vacations. All of my survey participants said it was important to take time off, but many were personally reluctant to unplug. To encourage more employees to take time off before Dec. 31, HR professionals are urging managers to think creatively about how to use vacation time. The reply should explain when the employee will be away and for how long, but also include some language that indicates that the employee is taking a break from work and is not available during this time. Giving Employees Vacation Time Off | Wolters Kluwer But please keep in mind that this leave must be used within the next calendar year or the carry over balance will expire. To get all of HBRs content delivered to your inbox, sign up for the Daily Alert newsletter. Everyone needs time off work. 11+ Vacation Policy Examples - PDF, Word. Being transparent about leave policies allows individuals to consciously weigh trade-offs and enables everyone to operate from the same set of principles. Encourage Employees to TAKE Vacations | Workology If you have any questions, please contact [contact]. 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 holidays. Thank you for a great year. Please try again later. A smaller share (16 percent) are requiring employees to take vacation time, and another 22 percent are planning to take or considering that approach. 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. Otherwise, youre heading for burnout and thats bad for everyone. To help businesses, Paycor is offering businesses a sample communication letter sharing your vaccination policy. You don't need us to tell you that taking time off should reduce stress. You might need to provide extra flexibility. "Employees may wonder what to do with a week off all at once, so encourage them to take a long weekend, or even a day in the middle of the busy workweek, for a few weeks in a row to lighten their workload," Winn said. Find the latest news and members-only resources that can help employers navigate in an uncertain economy. There is no maximum vacation recommendation , though there may be more and longer conversations for unique situations in which a teammate might want to take . Here are a few sample vacation request emails and a reminder email draft to help you get started: 1. This person can then quickly approve or decline the request, with a full view of any potential holiday clashes in the app. Encourage Employees to Take Vacation with a Mindful Vacation Policy An effective employee vacation policy isn't just about the accrual of leave balances and the scheduling of vacations. For more info on handling staff leave, check out our articles on: Our customers tell us what makes them tick. We really want our employees to take their leave its yours to take and we hope you enjoy it. Accelerate your career with Harvard ManageMentor. Guide To Vacation Leave Letters: Definition, Template and Sample Second, you also get Timetastics Firewire, which is sent out quarterly to you and any department managers you have on your team. Unsubscribe anytime. agree on a time for the employee to take the leave. Please enable scripts and reload this page. Employees encouraged to take time off for well-being SHRM's HR Knowledge Advisors offer guidance and resources to assist members with their HR inquiries. Various studies show that the current environment is taking a toll on employees' mental health and fueling workers' reticence about taking time off. Leaders can show employees they value this by taking time off themselves. Employees accrue 15 days of vacation for the first year of employment and 20 days of vacation each year after the first year. 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. Thats why we have an annual leave policyto help you take care of yourself so that youre ready to go when it comes time to come back! "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.". Format #1. Others are more likely to follow when company policies express and your behaviors demonstrate what you most value. Youll feel so much better when you get back than if you hadnt taken any time at all, and your coworkers will appreciate having someone healthy around them again! How Will the Anti-Work Movement Impact Businesses? It's also important to clearly indicate who approves someone's holiday requests. Make sure your message is clear. Plus, you want to give them an easy way to book time off, so they dont need to jump through hoops or read the fine print of a complicated leave request policy just to take a holiday. 3. Estimated Read Time: 4 minutes. Moreover, vacations can also help employees stay healthy by encouraging them to exercise and eat better habits. If they see the boss working nonstop, they. "Make it mandatory," says Profico. The company thinks that you truly deserve this vacation, and we hope you will consider our effort to appreciate your hard work and will take this opportunity. How to help employees take vacationeven when they're stressed Pay attention to your email's header and the design of its body . Encouraging to take time off is one of the most important things that you can do for your employees. Design/methodology/approach - - The first step of the analysis identifies the wage policy . David Zaitz/Getty Images. 2. Managers are also encouraged to be vocal about taking shorter amounts of time off. Set the example for your employees Discuss the days you will be taking off and encourage your team to do the same. Here are a few samples to help you draft the perfect vacation request letter. It has taken jobs, businesses and human lives. Follow this simple memo to staff on . That said, human resources personnel should also communicate regular reminders to employees about making the most of their PTO throughout the year. use up to four hours of administrative leave time, or your sick time. Working from home doesnt mean working all the time. "Then you know what they have planned, and you can encourage them to follow up on it and take the time off.". You can show them that work-life balance is important by: Employees are busy, and it can be easy to forget about the vacation days theyve accrued over the past year. With varying demands for inter-generational care and self-care, encourage your employees to take the time they need to balance competing priorities. Be Happy to Help: You need to encourage staff members to use their PTO. To help employees feel comfortable taking time off, its important to set up an out-of-office reply that promotes relaxation. Encouraging staff to take annual leave | myhrtoolkit Encouraging Your Employees to Take Vacations - MIBluesPerspectives 'We understand you can't travel. For example, include information about the notice required in advance of a holiday and how much notice is required to refuse a holiday request. The request is automatically sent to the right person usually their direct manager, but this can be anyone you want in charge of reviewing holiday requests. Dear (mention the name of the recipient). Why you should encourage staff to take annual leave Ensure youre clear about your organizations current time-off policy and communicate it to your team. You can reach me at [alternate contact info]. Here's how you can encourage your employees to take their vacation time this year, even if it's only a staycation: Set an example. 4 Simple Ways to Encourage Employees to Take Vacation - Montridge Drew Gieseke is an aPHR-certified marketing professional who writes about HR, compliance, and healthcare solutions. Limit the rollover of unused paid leave days. Note: This is what it looks like when you book a holiday using our mobile app. To give the company time to finalize schedules, team members are expected to submit requests by [date] through [communication method]. A policy that is clear and available to all shows that you, as the employer, value the importance of vacation time for employees. One of the things employers can do to encourage PTO is to reduce meetings, which allows employees to have a clear schedule and take time off without fear of missing out on work information or opportunities, some experts say. 2. The current crisis is creating more urgency and more work. Why it's in your interest for staff to take leave. For example, one of my direct reports said she was not going to use her vacation as she did not have any plans. Sabina Nawaz. These include [dates]. If you have any questions about your leave balance, or how to reschedule your leave, please reach out to your manager. HR circular format for employees are very helpful in this situation. One of the best ways for managers to encourage their staff to take time off is by taking PTO themselves. Policy brief & purpose. And finally, activate your team by creating a plan where work is still accomplished, even as people are offline. 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. John Linden, an interior designer at MirrorCoop, a custom-mirror company in Los Angeles, was so desperate for employees to take time off that he began buying them tickets to local museums so they might consider fun and socially distanced activities for their days off. At Workhuman, surveys showed that employee stress was on the rise and vacation requests were running below 2019 levels. Please log in as a SHRM member before saving bookmarks. Managers need to rise to the occasion by encouraging time off from their employees. When some of your employees are using time off, share that information with the rest of the team and encourage them to do so as well. Company culture has to promote self-care and wellness for the employees. I suggested that she take a few long weekends and do local explorations. Downloadable (with restrictions)! Here are some ways you can encourage employees to step away from their devices: Sometimes employees hesitate to take time off because they feel they will be distracted from getting all work-related emails and then having to reply to them instantly. Suddenly, a majority of people within an organization want to take time off. In, Template: PTO Communication to Remind Employees to Use Time Off Hours, more productive and exhibit lower stress and better mental health, There's more to PTO than making adjustments at the end of the year. The best approach is a mandatory vacation set at a company-wide level. 1. As health officials urge everyone to stay close to home and limit contact with people outside their households during the winter holidays to stop the spread of the coronavirus, many workers are reluctant to use their PTOeven after they postponed summer vacation plans. Need help with a specific HR issue like coronavirus or FLSA? A leave allows the workers to have a break to rest and re-energize themselves for their future work. HBR Learnings online leadership training helps you hone your skills with courses like Team Management.