Summer time off vs workload

[susans]

I tend to joke with co workers and friends when they have a day or a week off and say there is no such thing as a day off, because you do all the work that has piled up in the first few days back! Is this true? When you take time off does the work pile up and just wait for you to get back or do you have a system that delegates the work to others? Let us know how you handle the workload and holiday/vacation time.

[diamondlady]

It's hit and miss with some things that I do.  Some things no one else knows how to except me and I know that it's a bad thing, but it's nothing that can't be figured out over time.  I prepare well ahead so I have no worries when I do take time off.  I am scheduled for July 4th week and am making sure everything is done up ahead, and that if anything needs to be ordered the back up person is in house for anything that comes up.

Now for August, I will be taking some real time off (2 weeks) for our anniversary this year, and the way things are going in this office and the changes that are happening latley, I'm not sure what to expect when I come back, however, I always make sure there is appropriate coverage on all of the routine items, but when I come back from that trip I expect tons of paperwork regardless.  My boss is pretty efficient on his own anyway, and doesn't like stuff like that to sit, so he will take care of things for himself, by himself mostly.  For the most part, when I am on vacation, that is it, no call in, and no check in if I can avoid it.  Unless something catastrophic happens, then I expect them to contact me, otherwise, it can wait.

Diamondlady
Peer Moderator

[gri03550]

I'm very fortunate in that I work for a Further Education college in which students and most lecturers are away for the summer, up to a period of 8 weeks.  In that time it's fairly easy for me to take time away from work and return with little to no work piled on my desk.  I tend to take 2 weeks out in August and I'm able totally relax without thinking about the work that I'll have to return to!

In my role there is no system of delegation.  If a piece of work is urgent then another member of staff in the same role (for a different department) can pick it up, although this almost never happens.

Matt Griffin AffIQPS, LIAV

[ozbound]

By necessity, I have a system to delegate my work to others because most of it must be done on a daily basis, by the end of the day. There are a few low-priority tasks that can be put off though (and some that I try to do ahead, too) and there are always tons of questions to be answered, etc., when I return from a vacation!
(BTW I'm taking my first week-long vaca from my current job later this year--kinda scary, but exciting!)

[gee4]

In my current role and with projects I am responsible for, yes, after my 2-week holiday, I shall come back to a pile of work no doubt.  That has been mostly the same in all my roles.  I prefer it that way actually, it means I know where I am and no-one has interfered while I have been off.

[laurafmcdermott]

I'm getting ready to take a maternity leave over this summer.  Since I've only been in this position a short time, I'm curious to see how they will manage.  I have a great back-up person who will do the necessary things, but I don't have any idea what I will return to.  Hopefully, they will miss me very much!  One likes to know one's position is secure.

[Atlanta Z3]

I took off a week in May and went to Yellowstone National Park and Mount Rushmore.  For me, it was the lead up so everything would be smooth while I was out; we don't have any temp help.  Fortunately it wasn't too bad when I came back.  More recently, I was out a day for a funeral, for some reason missing that day meant a lot of catch up work the next two days.  Go figure...

[raindance]

I arrange for an interim worker to take my place, as far as possible, during my absence.  A couple of members of the management team are delegated to take certain aspects of my work forward.  

Some work does pile up whilst I am away, but that's just how things go.  It all gets done in time with good planning.  

I leave specific, written instructions on how to progress the various elements of my work, and current projects, for my interim replacement.  The most important thing is to recruit the right person, and so I insist on seeing CVs beforehand and, if I have time, seeing the person.  OK, so I'm very particular, but I have had a couple of very bad experiences with people who came with good recommendations.  On the whole, though, I have had superb people.  

The most important thing, I think, when taking vacation is to plan the work beforehand.  I'm fairly ruthless with time management anyway, but pay extra close attention when it comes up to holidays.  

[spitfire78]

At least a week before I go on vacation, I send an e-mail to all of the departments that I provide purchasing and reimbursement services for.  I inform them of my upcoming vacation and request that they have everything to me by noon of my last day at the latest.  Emergency orders can be handled by my boss, but I usually plead with everyone to plan ahead and get them to me, as she has enough of her own stuff to do without getting burdened with mine when I am away.  Other than emergency orders, everything else just waits for my return.  I usually spend my first day back going through e-mail, voicemail, and snail mail and sorting everything into my various bins.  Then I start tackling the work.  I figure the order in this way:  1) orders, 2) invoices to be paid, 3) deposits, 4) reimbursments, 5) journals, 6 filing.  Usually, in addition to the mail, I get the orders done the first day.  The second day I tackle any orders that came in overnight and then proceed to the invoices and deposits.  The third day I do orders, invoices, and deposits that came in overnight and then start reimbursements.  That way, I get caught up on the old stuff but keep current at the same time.  It's usually the 4th or 5th day before I get to the journals and filing, but they are the least pressing of the duties anyway.

Most people here are very understanding.  If someone presses me for something, I merely tell them that I was on vacation and am still catching up.  I will get to their job as soon as I possibly can.  That usually satisfies them.

[JessW]

I am currently relying on people going on holiday or off sick for my 'daily bread and butter' (as a temp!) and so have had experience of having to get as much if not most of the nitty gritty done so that the returning employees don't have a backlog of stuff to do.  A valuable tool for the hard-workers.  Mind you, this is reliant on me also finishing off the assignment with detailed notes on the essential facts to bring the returner up to date on events during their absence.

Long live the lucky holiday-gower! May they have lots and lots of holidays (on full pay, mind!)

Jess

[movinonup]

I turn the daily tasks over to 3 other coordinators.  This includes travel, meeting arrangements, and urgent purchase orders.  

Other than that, my work involves a lot of meeting minutes and reporting, which can usually wait.  I must admit, though, when I was out 3 days last week for a conference, my e-mail really piled up high.  I've taken care of the urgent matters, but still need to dig into it.  And we had to get our 2008 calendar order in yesterday, so that took up a great deal of my week.  I was so glad when Friday finally arrived.

Movinonup

[raejg]

My work piles up until I get back.  In the summer it's really no big deal though...I work for an accounting firm and we are slow during the summer.  Before I leave, I always check with everybody to make sure there is nothing with a deadline before I'm scheduled to return.