Make a Holiday Time Off Policy (& Communicate It)

1

Establish clear guidelines for time-off requests and share them with your team well in advance. Transparency minimizes confusion and sets expectations.

Set a Deadline

2

Encourage employees to submit their leave requests early by setting a deadline. This allows you to plan schedules more effectively.

Prioritize Requests

3

Use a fair system to prioritize time-off requests, such as considering seniority or a first-come, first-served approach.

Clarify Organizational Needs

4

Clearly outline the company’s needs during the holidays and communicate which roles are critical to maintain operations.

Be Flexible by Staggering Schedules & Allowing Employees to Swap Shifts

5

Offer staggered time-off options and empower employees to trade shifts among themselves for added flexibility.

Establish Blackout Periods

6

Define specific days when time-off requests cannot be accommodated due to high demand or workload.

Shut Down

7

If feasible, consider closing the office for a few days to give everyone a break and streamline scheduling.

Offer Rewards for Working

8

Motivate staff to work during peak times with incentives like bonuses, extra time off later, or other perks.