With the summer season officially here, practices may need to deal with an increase in paid time off (PTO) requests. While PTO can be good for the well-being and productivity of employees, an increase in requests can lead to hectic scheduling issues.
Implementing and managing PTO can be complex, so here are a few considerations:
Types of PTO: Some employers offer a single PTO bank, providing flexibility. However, separate banks for different types of leave (vacation, sick, etc.) can help with compliance and encourage employees to take necessary time off without feeling like they’re using vacation days.
Advance Notice for PTO: Requiring advance notice (e.g., two weeks) for vacation time is common, but policies can be adjusted based on business needs. Allow flexibility for last-minute requests where possible.
Handling PTO Requests: Clear, objective criteria for approving or denying PTO requests help prevent discrimination and misunderstandings. Consider factors like request order, employee seniority, and team needs.
Unused PTO: For those that do not use all of their PTO, you may want to allow rollover of unused days or requiring employees to take a minimum amount of PTO. Address underlying reasons for underused PTO to prevent burnout and promote a healthy work-life balance.
Integrated HR Technology: Does your business have an organized system in place for submitting PTO? Are you able to track dates to ensure that multiple employees aren’t taking the same days off from work?
SynchronyHR’s integrated payroll technology can help your team manage and track PTO requests that are independently submitted by employees through a user-friendly, digital portal. Employees can also use this portal to review vacation balances before planning a trip, and can view the status of their PTO requests without regularly checking in with their managers.
Conclusion
Whatever you do when it comes to managing PTO, be sure to also encourage employees to take some time off this summer as a vacation-friendly culture can lead to less burnout/overwork.
Interested in learning more about these tools? Contact us today for a summer free of administrative burdens.
*This article is for informational purposes only and is not intended as legal advice. For further information, please consult a legal professional.