Open all hours…
Top tips for office opening hours over Christmas.
It is that time of year where you either start to resemble the Grinch (more than normal) or quite the opposite, you are super excited by the thought of even the elf on the shelf!
With the big day only a few days away, hopefully most of your Christmas presents have been bought, bonuses announced and you are getting into the festive spirit (port I find adds significantly to this!).
As far as the Marketing and Advertising sector is concerned, 2015 has generally been a pretty good one with increased business wins and confidence in the marketplace. There is one area that businesses in our sector tend to differ at this time of the year and that is the thorny issue of Christmas opening hours and staff holidays.
Traditionally Marketing agencies have slowed down in the run up to the festive holiday period but what to do about those 3-4 days in between the big day and New Year? Do you give the staff extra time off? Include it in their holiday entitlement so they have to take it as holiday? Or make them work it?
Never an easy decision in the increasing 24/7 lifestyle that we operate in, but it tends to be the most hotly requested period off. Trying to appear fair while keeping business ticking along is the trick.
So here is our advice:
- Wherever possible, you should try to act thoughtfully – measure the needs of those with families against the Christmas party animals.
- Consider, for example, if it is possible for those staff
who are needed to work at festive times to be able to work from home for some or all of the time, or to perhaps do shorter hours on certain days.
- If your business activity is usually very quiet over the holiday season consider also closing the office altogether and even giving staff an extra few days of holiday between Christmas and the New Year without having to dip into their annual leave entitlement.
- It would be a generous gesture on your behalf, but one that is likely to reap huge amounts of loyalty and appreciation from your employees that will last long after the holiday season is over.
We wish you a very Merry Christmas, a great New Year and a prosperous 2016 from the team at Scout.
