Set the example for your employees Discuss the days you will be taking off and encourage your team to do the same. "It's important for employers to say [to employees], 'We care about you,' " said Jackie Reinberg, North America consulting leader, absence, disability management and life, at London-based Willis Towers Watson. " Many HR professionals report that they've struggled with how to address this trend because vacation is such a sensitive topic. Teams are feeling . "Encourage To Take Vacation" Letter to Employee: 4 Templates From dress code to time off, my team follows the tone set by the leader. Sample employee email to encourage them to get vaccinated . With nowhere to go and much to adjust to, most people have cancelled not only their travel reservations but their time off as well. Encouraging staff to take annual leave | myhrtoolkit Thank you for being YOU! The current crisis is creating more urgency and more work. You can use our sample leave of absence forms to encourage employees to take time off work. Even though staff taking holiday can be disruptive in the short term, encouraging staff to book annual leave actually holds many benefits to employers in the long run: Cut stress & burnout, and improve productivity. 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. Vacations are necessary to help you re-charge and be your best in the office. Research shows the benefits of vacations to employee productivity and the economy both of which are currently under threat. $("span.current-site").html("SHRM MENA "); Tip#2: Be friendly. 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. Follow this simple memo to staff on . 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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. else if(currentUrl.indexOf("/about-shrm/pages/shrm-mena.aspx") > -1) { Encourage Employees to TAKE Vacations | Workology Even if our employees work from home, we ask when they are taking a 'vacation' even if it's a staycation. If you're like most Americans, it's likely been a while, as 55% of workers don't use all their paid time off. One of the best ways for managers to encourage their staff to take time off is by taking PTO themselves. For many employees, working from home has led them to pour more time and effort into their jobs without realizing it. Employees who are able to relax and spend time with their families often report higher job satisfaction than those who dont have this opportunity (and may even want more). The first step to dismissing any negative perceptions about taking time off is to reassure your employees that their jobs are safe. On his half day off, one of my clients created a bouquet for his wife from his garden, repaired a bicycle, and read a book that had been sitting on his shelf for a decade. Others may channel their anxiety about the world into their work so they are reluctant to take time off. Step 3 - Create your direction to take annual leave due to an excessive leave balance letter . Below is a vacation request email sample for medical reasons: Subject: Medical leave application Dear (Manager's name), I'm writing this letter to request vacation leave from Tuesday (December 15th) through Thursday (December 24th). Consider providing informal time off, increasing caps on maximum vacation accrual, and encouraging people to take breaks. The way leaders take a vacation is a signal for employees on vacation expectations. 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. 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 further queries, you can reach our management department at [mention phone number] or directly through an email [mention email address]. The Best Way We've Found To Get Employees To Take More Vacation Time Once the request is approved, the company Wallchart is updated so everyone can see that new time off has been added to the company calendar. Taking time off is something many people will avoid when job security is at the forefront of someones mind. Template: Employee Vacation and PTO Policy Change | BerniePortal 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. Subject Line: Please join us as we re-open our doors on June 05, 2020. Sample email. 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. use up to four hours of administrative leave time, or your sick time. Sales teams are notorious for not taking PTO; this is in part because of the ongoing nature of the work and in part because taking time off can be expensive if you miss on commission. Otherwise, youre heading for burnout and thats bad for everyone. These Three Words Describe Me in The Best Way. 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. Here's How to Encourage Employees to Take PTO - SHRM 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. For additional queries, you can reach our department of [Mention the details] at [mention phone number] or directly through an email at [mention the email address]. 'We understand you can't travel. Ease the numbness induced with back-to-back video calls and a long to-do list by reinventing vacations and time off, and encouraging your team to do the same. Here are a few samples to help you draft the perfect vacation request letter. 10 Types of Leaves to Include in Your Leave Policy, How to Manage Remote Employees over Microsoft Teams. But do your employees? Review this collection of common PTO questions and answers or watch the embedded HR Party of One video below to prepare accordingly. Ensure there is appropriate cover. Lisa Rabasca Roepe is a freelance writer based in Arlington, Va. You have successfully saved this page as a bookmark. Putting a cap on this important time doesn't help our effort to achieve high levels of employee satisfaction and productivity. 1. Here are 12 ways you can proactively encourage employees to take time off work: Encourage employees to take a digital detox. Please confirm that you want to proceed with deleting bookmark. Why it's in your interest for staff to take leave. Be happy when employees book time off. We need to refuel early and often. It is essential for your employees to take time off from work for their sake, as much as yours. How To Encourage Employees To Take Time Off And Recharge - Forbes Taking time off should be encouraged by companies and managers to promote employee wellness, happiness, and productivity in the workplace. Employees encouraged to take time off for well-being Here are five ways to encourage your employees to take a holiday leave: 1. Published Tuesday, Jul 7, 2020 Contact Us Human Resources Address: 120 Whittier Hall Box: 149 * Phone: 212-678-3175 * Email: hr@tc.columbia.edu Disability-related Accommodations To request disability-related accommodations contact OASID at oasid@tc.edu, (212) 678-3689, (646) 755-3144 video phone, as early as possible. How to encourage employees to use PTO during coronavirus To request permission for specific items, click on the reuse permissions button on the page where you find the item. However, while the number of hours worked is soaring, peoples capacity to focus and produce quality work is diving. year after restoration (i.e., restored in leave year 2013 to be used by the end of leave year 2014). Not to mention that according to SHRM, when employees take PTO, they're often more productive and exhibit lower stress and better mental health. In our company time off policy, it states that [X AMOUNT] of your annual leave will be carried over into the next year. So why not encourage your employees to try scheduling an extra day off on a Friday or Monday once in a while? This allows your employees to start thinking of dates they might like to request off. Once downloaded, you can customize the text . 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. They influence President Biden signed the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act into law on December 29, 2022 BerniePortal is the all-in-one HR software solution at a fair price, so HR can focus on providing a good place to work. 2. What Is the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act (PWFA). Address and ease their fears of taking time off. This is just a friendly reminder that, as of [DD/MM/YY], you have a remaining leave balance of [X DAYS / X HOURS]. Also, push your team to unplug for at least a day on the weekend, never checking any work messages. Company culture has to promote self-care and wellness for the employees. Everybody needs refreshment in their life from their work, so by looking into your hard work and sincerity towards your work, the company has decided to give you a leave for someday, and we will appreciate if you take it. 5 Ways to Persuade Employees to Take Vacation Before They Burnout 4 Simple Ways to Encourage Employees to Take Vacation - Montridge In this post, we gave you three sample letters you can send to your team to remind them they have annual leave left to use or letting them know that leave will be carried over. }); if($('.container-footer').length > 1){ How to Tell an Employee to Take a Leave | Small Business - Chron If you have any questions about your leave balance, or how to book leave, please reach out to your manager. You may be setting the bar high with your hard work and dedication, but if you arent taking time off yourself (and showing others how its done), then they wont know how to break away from their official responsibilities. Here are five reasons to encourage your employees to take a vacation. How Will the Anti-Work Movement Impact Businesses? Downloadable (with restrictions)! Virtual & Washington, DC | February 26-28, 2023. Use imagery around the office. If you havent taken a vacation yet this year, I hope youll consider taking some time off soon. Adjust Job Requirements to Allow for Stress-Free PTO. Remind employees to schedule annual leave in advance Have an open talk with your employees about their unused annual leave. document.head.append(temp_style); You may be trying to access this site from a secured browser on the server. To recap, here's how to ask for time off: Tip#1: Send a vacation request email weeks in advance. This policy is based on mutual trust . Please confirm that you want to proceed with deleting bookmark. Subject: letter to encourage employees to take vacations. We strongly recommend taking vacation time during this pandemic. 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. Subject: Request for one week vacation leave. I've included a sample email template to send to your team today. The best way to encourage employees is by setting an example yourself. Employees who take regular time off are less stressed, less likely to burn out, and better equipped to find solutions when problems arise. How to encourage employees to take annual leave - Robert Half So it becomes your responsibility to motivate such employees sometimes to take vacation leaves for a few days, and to help you create the appropriate letter for that, I have written some sample letters which you can refer to. Employee COVID-19 Mandatory Vaccination Policy Template - Paycor I Am a Self-Taught Marketer with 10 Years of Experience. You should send employees monthly reminders about how much time off they have available for use in the following year. Itll be a great way to recharge their batteries without sacrificing any work hours. Sometimes we all need to take some time off and do something completely unproductive. We would be very happy to give some of the savings we achieve in reduced electricity costs back to you. Restored leave still remaining to the employee's credit at the end of this period will be forfeited without the right to further restoration. Harvards Leslie Perlow showed how consultants at Boston Consulting Group made significant progress in job satisfaction, work-life balance, and collaboration and effectiveness by taking predictable time off from their cell phones while ensuring that their work is covered by a fellow team member during that time. Explain the need for leave. These include [dates]. Template for external staff letter. How to help employees take vacationeven when they're stressed 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! "It's not necessarily time off, but we encourage our people on no-meeting days to do that extra load of laundry or have . Managers, Encourage Your Team to Take Time Off - Harvard Business Review 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 . The center, which provides counseling services to women with unplanned pregnancies, depends on volunteers to help carry out its mission. Review these examples of letters and emails sent to candidates during the hiring process: Interview Invitation Letters Candidate Rejection Letters Welcome a New or Returning Employee Whether you're making an initial job offer or welcoming an employee back from an extended leave, here are some samples of what you might say. Your session has expired. There are a lot of stressors now and our biggest concern is our employees becoming burned out. var currentLocation = getCookie("SHRM_Core_CurrentUser_LocationID"); Encouraging Employees to Utilize Paid Time Off During a Pandemic $("span.current-site").html("SHRM China "); Of this total, $210B was used and $155B was unused. Many companies are encouraging employees to take off half days, a day in the middle of the week, or a Monday or Friday to extend the weekend. Encourage holiday talk in your company. "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. [Include Template 4] Thanks, Your HR Team TEMPLATE 4: Managers Team Involvement (Every 6 months) Hello Team! "I think with remote work, it was hard to separate work from home life," Smith said. $("span.current-site").html("SHRM MENA "); The point is, you now have the information on hand. This leave can make you more motivated and help you perform more effectively. It's also important to clearly indicate who approves someone's holiday requests. However, in the retail industry, the final two months of every year are almost always the busiest. What Is a Dependent Care FSA and How Does It Work? The disparity in working conditions is becoming evident in the yield of work based on individual work-from-home circumstances. Returning To Work After Vacation [8 Tips and Email Examples] - BambooHR Suddenly, a majority of people within an organization want to take time off. Start your free one-month trial today. June 05, 2020. To learn more about communicating these updates, use the template in, federal holidays like Thanksgiving and Christmas, human resources information system (HRIS), this collection of common PTO questions and answers. What Can Employers Do to Require or Encourage Workers to Get a - KFF Additionally, employees will become more conscious of scheduling their breaks. HR circular format for employees are very helpful in this situation. Encourage Employees to Use Vacation Time [Mindful Policy] - actiPLANS 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]. If you can, make a notice as early as 2 months before the actual leave.This will make you look responsible and a good planner. $('.container-footer').first().hide(); 4.2 Vacation | Policies - Massachusetts Institute of Technology If they see the boss working nonstop, they. Not to mention that according to SHRM, when employees take PTO, theyre often more productive and exhibit lower stress and better mental health. Fewer employees want to take vacations given that the pandemic has severely curtailed travel options. A leave allows the workers to have a break to rest and re-energize themselves for their future work. That is why I would encourage employees to take days off by recommending they spend time with their families. We send two emails per month max. We set very clear performance metrics with our employees and allow them flexibility in accomplishing those goals. Review. Many HR professionals across the country are struggling with how to convince employees to take vacation. 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 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. Tip#4: Ease any concerns about finishing your projects on time. Vacation Request Email to Boss Sample: 4 Examples Holiday Request Letter to Manager: 4 Templates Annual Leave Letter: 4 Templates Leave Extension Letter Example: 4 Templates Holiday Request Letter example: 4 Templates Engineer Farewell Letter: 28 templates Leave of Absence Letter Template: 4 Emails Leave Application Confirmation Letter: 4 Templates 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. First, provide clarity about your time-off policy and any company, government, or health official guidelines and restrictions. That's why it is so important to lead by example. You may want your employees to feel like theyre getting enough sleep, eating well, and exercisingand also having fun! Dear (mention the name of the recipient). Energise your workforce. Though annual leave is part of the compulsory benefits of a regular employee, it is always a good gesture when you planned it ahead of time and inform you immediate superior about it.These are the things that you need to consider before writing the letter: 1. Meanwhile, vacation requests fell roughly 50 percent during the initial months of the pandemic. 2. How to Encourage Employees to Take Vacation - SHRM Overworked employees are unhappy, do not engage and do not contribute to a productive office environment. Redefine vacations to mean more than just recreation and travel to include family time, caregiving, and self-care. The company sent employees reminders to start planning their vacation schedules, with few responses. That also means that they're responsible for getting that work done and coordinating with other team members to make that happen.