Countdown to Christmas…

With Christmas just around the corner, the Cobbetts’ employment team gives you some tips on how to cope with the particular pressures at this special time of year.

Just 364 days to Christmas…

Employers need to be prepared. You should plan ahead and review contractual terms and holiday policies to see what flexibility you already have to ensure you can maintain staffing over the festive period and what action you can take if an employee refuses to work or simply fails to turn up when scheduled to work.

It is also sensible to have early consultation with employees so that you can clarify the needs of the business during the Christmas period. Some employees may actually relish the opportunity to work at this time of year, perhaps saving holidays for better weather or other festivals. Others may want the opportunity to take extended breaks to visit family and friends. If you can staff based on willing volunteers, the likelihood of absence is much lower and their productivity will be higher.

If insufficient volunteers come forward then you can turn to your contractual rights to refuse holiday applications. You might decide to determine holidays based on first come, first served or, perhaps, consider a fair allocation based on Christmas holidays taken in previous years. It is always open to you to agree some dates and refuse others to “share” holiday between employees.

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