Getting it right means less stress for you, happier employees and a more productive team. If you need help with setting up a holiday process that works, or implementing something like Breathe HR to help you manage your holidays, let’s talk. 

Here’s how to simplify the process and keep everyone happy: 

1. Set clear rules: Make sure your holiday policy covers notice periods, black-out dates and how requests are prioritised. 
2. Use a simple system: HR software like Breathe HR can save you from endless emails and double bookings. 
3. Say yes or no to requests quickly: Delayed decisions frustrate your team and create chaos. 
4. Plan in advance for busy times: Encourage early bookings for holidays, like Christmas or school holidays. 
5. Spread leave evenly: Remind your team not to save all their days until the last minute. Run a Holiday report from Breathe HR to tell you who has lots of holiday left to take every quarter to prevent this from happening.  
6. Know when to say no: Be fair but firm. Sometimes, business needs have to come first. 
7. Support the rest of the team: Make sure workloads are covered to avoid overburdening those still in the office and not on holiday.