Paid vacation time is typically part of your employee’s benefits package. Currently there is no federal law requiring that employers provide paid vacation. It is not required under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA.) However, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, more than 90% of full-time employees in private industry receive paid time off.
Providing these benefits as part of an employment package can entice applicants to apply for a job. In addition, they may choose to take a position with a company that has great benefits. However, the real payback is the benefits the employer gets in return like improved productivity, magnificent work culture, and work-life balance.
Offering paid vacation time is great, but if your employees are not utilizing their vacation time, what is the point? At ClarityHR our goal is to help you and your team make the most of the benefits you offer and part of that means having a plan for everyone using their paid vacation time.
The success of your paid time off or vacation time policy will depend on the culture you create around it. A healthy paid vacation time culture emphasizes the importance of taking time off and encourages employees to use their full vacation time. Here are some tips to help encourage your employees to use their paid vacation time.
As a business owner, it is important to be able to calculate the labor you always must have available to maximize productivity. You cannot have everyone take the same weeks off a year for vacation, unless that is part of your overall business strategy, for instance, there are businesses that shut down between Christmas and New Years. That might be seen as one amazing job perk! As the business owner, you get to make the rules, granted they comply with state and federal requirements. That is where ClarityHR can help.
As the leadership of the organization, it is important to set an example in terms of taking vacations. Time away is good for both management and employees to mentally regroup. If management is so taxed that they cannot take vacation it sets a bad example for employees. The last thing you want is for employees to feel guilty for taking vacation when the organization’s management is not using theirs. Vacation days or PTO days really help employees to have better mental health and encourage an excellent work life balance.
How Can ClarityHR Help?
Do not wait until New Years Eve to realize that many of your employees have unused vacation. Have a plan throughout the year to encourage everyone to take time away from work. IF you need help developing a strategy for paid time off call Clarity HR today. We are here to help you with all your human resource needs.
Remember, the goal is to promote a healthy work-life balance and ensure that employees get the rest they need, which benefits both the individual and the organization. Contact us today to review your paid vacation policies.
