Reasons that Managers should take Regular Vacations and when they should take them
Managers deserve to take a vacation, just as employees do. In fact, a break from work once or twice a year is necessary for mental health and stress levels. However, if a manager starts to take too much time off, he could lose the respect of his employees and there may be difficulties that occur during his absence. Fortunately, there are circumstances under a manager's control that he can utilise to his advantage. It is OK for a manager to take a vacation in the following situations:
- The presence of a second-in-command
It is simply not possible for a manager to be around all the time, even when not on vacation, so training up a capable second-in-command is a necessary part of the job. Once this person is in place, it will be much easier for a manager to leave things in their capable hands. However, a manager may need to make it perfectly clear that the second-in-command is just that, otherwise there could be a power struggle and employees could become confused.
- All staff are fully-trained
Going on vacation when there are new members of staff is not a good idea. The sooner new employees get to grips with the machinations of their new workplace. If the manager is not there, then this will be difficult. There is also the fact that longer-term employees will have to take up the slack while the new employees find their feet. A manager needs to be in place to ensure that everything goes smoothly and to deal with any issues as they arise.
- End of major projects
It is natural for some times of the year to be busier than others, especially if there are major projects to be completed. Even if the project is well underway, it is better for a manager to be in place just in case anything goes wrong and troubleshooting is needed. Once the project has been completed and handed over, it will be a good time for a manager to take a break, knowing that nothing of vital importance is going to go wrong while away.
- Outside of busy holiday periods
The workplace should be completely closed over national holidays such as Christmas, Easter and Thanksgiving. However, it is not ideal for a manager to take extra time off during those periods, or during the summer when many employees with children will want to take time off. Work may be quieter than usual, but if a number of people are on holiday at the same time, it will be hard for those remaining to keep things running, especially without a manager.
- No vacation has been taken for some time
There are times when a manager should take a holiday regardless of any other issues - particularly if he has not taken time off for some time. A manager's role can be very stressful and long periods without a break can lead to mental health issues, or at the very least, snappy, bad-tempered behaviour. When a manager realises that they need to take a vacation, then it is almost certainly best to take one before team spirit starts to suffer.
It is quite possible that there is no completely ideal time for a manager to take a vacation. However, the above situations are almost certainly more ideal than others and it is, of course, necessary for a manager to take time off work at some point.
