With the economy still stuck in neutral, many employees are fearful of taking vacation days. They don’t want to be perceived as slacking off or lazy, especially when times are tough. In fact, according to a 2009 study conducted by Right Management, 66% of those polled had not used all of their allotted paid vacation days that year – that’s 2/3rds!

However, despite what you might think, employees not taking vacations can actually cause more harm than good at your company. In fact, there are some very real costs associated with it, including:

• Mistakes on the job
• Resentment toward their employer
• Resentment toward co-workers who do take time off
• Lower morale and less engagement with the job
• Taking unscheduled time off in the form of sick days

In addition, employees that don’t take time off during the year often report feeling overworked and stressed out, which can lead to expensive health problems down the line. And it’s no wonder – they haven’t had any time to “check out” from the job; to relax and get re-energized.

While some employees avoid taking vacations out of fear, others feel like they simply can’t get away because they are too busy. This is where you as a manager should come in. It’s important that you meet with your employees to figure out a way to help them take deserved time off. If they insist it’s simply not possible, then reassure them that you are committed to making it happen.

In the future, to ensure employees take the time off they need, you must:

• Require that all your managers take time off as a way to set the example for the rest of the staff.
• Push key company players to train others on critical duties so they feel like they can take some time off during the year.
• Create cross-training initiatives within the company, so employees are familiar with all aspects of the work and can pitch in when needed.
• Actively look for ways to cover employees’ work while they’re gone.

One way you can do that is through the use of temporary staffing. Not only are temporary workers ideal for covering vacation time, but they can also cover employees on maternity or sick leave, as well. In addition, temporary workers can help you maintain productivity while your employees are away – all without increasing your fixed expenses.

If you’d like to learn more about how temporary staffing can help keep your core staff more productive, give us a call. Our Sacramento temporary staffing services can give you access to people with the skills and experience you need – when you need them, and only for as long as you need them.