Annual leave is a benefit all employees receive. In the UK, the typical allocation is around 28 days, during which we’re encouraged to leave our work and focus on relaxing and rejuvenating.
However, we seem to be forgetting to take annual leave!! Reports suggest that only 1 in 3 of us takes our full annual leave allocation each year.
Read on to explore the benefits of annual leave and why it’s important to take yours:
Health benefits
Taking time away from the business gives our bodies and minds the chance to realign. It’s our opportunity to relax, away from the pressures of our day job, and to focus on other areas of our lives that also make us happy, such as friends and family. Much like sleep helps our bodies rejuvenate, annual leave is an important part of our year and one of very few chances we get to truly forget about work. This in turn relieves stress. We delegate tasks to our colleagues while we’re away, which means the period prior to annual leave is usually one in which we complete tasks and re-prioritise. This helps us to focus and clear our minds, bringing our levels of stress down.
Productivity
When we work constantly, our bodies are prone to burn out. This is where we’ve worked hard for so long, we simply can’t do it anymore. Time out of the office gives you chance to relieve that stress and think about things in a more positive manner, with clarity to help you work more productively and effectively. Encouraging your employees to use their annual leave can also reduce the number of sick days taken each year, which has a tangible impact on your bottom line.
Building trust
It’s important we show our colleagues that we trust them with our work, and that we can rely on them to do a great job in our absence. Taking annual leave, especially if you’re more senior in a business, tells your colleagues that you do trust them and gives them the chance to develop professionally too.
Top tips for annual leave
Follow these tips to make the most of your annual leave time:
- Set an out of office response that gives people an alternative contact during your absence.
- Turn off your email notifications and work phone so you can relax and forget about your day job.
- Delegate work in advance so your colleagues have chance to ask questions of you before you leave.
It’s important that we lead the way in ensuring we take the holiday we deserve and that we make the most of that time. It is good to remember that the business won’t fall apart just because you’ve been away for a few days! Happy holidays!
If you would like to discuss any HR issues, please drop us an email at hello@hrrevolution.co.uk.
