Keeping Productivity High When Half Your Team is on Holiday

Summer is the season everyone looks forward to, but for business owners it can feel like a juggling act. 

With team members taking well-deserved breaks, workloads can pile up and productivity can take a hit. Add to that the challenge of planning annual leave, covering resource gaps and keeping everyone motivated before they head off (or while they are covering for others), and it’s easy to see why summer can test even the most robust businesses.  The good news? With some smart planning and a few practical steps, you can keep your business running smoothly and your team happy, no matter how many people are away.  

Plan annual leave before it becomes a headache 

Holiday clashes can be one of the largest challenges in the summer. The simplest fix is to set clear booking rules early on, especially for longer breaks. Make sure everyone knows how far in advance they need to book their leave and cap the number of people who can be at once. It’s also helpful to ensure good visibility to key projects to avoid under resourcing early. 

A shared holiday calendar is a game-changer, helping the whole team keep visibility of who is off and plan their own work (and holidays!) around it.  

Fill the gaps before they happen 

When key people are away, resource gaps can slow everything down, leaving your business scrambling if not planned for. A strong approach is to get ahead of this by building a multi-skilled team. Cross-training staff so they can step into different roles ensures that important tasks don’t stall and offers some great learning and development opportunities for the wider team.  

For busier periods, bringing in temporary staff can make all the difference. A good recruitment partner can provide experienced temps who can get up to speed quickly, keeping things moving without overloading the rest of your team. It’s also wise to review workloads and decide which projects can wait until the full team is back so no one is stretched too thin.  

Keep everyone motivated 

Let’s face it, productivity can dip simply because people are counting down the days to their holidays. Setting short, achievable goals can help maintain focus during this time. Recognition also goes a long way, especially for those who are having to put in extra while their colleagues are on annual leave. Check out our blog on Managing Staff Holidays Without Burnout This Summer for more ideas.  

Communicate clearly 

Good communication is essential during the holiday season. Be upfront with clients, customers and your internal teams about reduced capacity and set realistic, transparent timelines for projects. Within the team, make sure everyone is clear on who’s covering what and also know who to speak with when issues crop up. Managers should be visible and ready to make quick decisions when needed.  

Ease the post-holiday rush 

Coming back to a mountain of emails and tasks can quickly undo the benefits of a break. To prevent this, encourage your team to leave handover notes before they go. These can outline where projects stand and who is handling what, making it much easier for others to keep things moving.  

When people return, a quick catch-up meeting can bring them up to speed faster than an endless inbox trawl. It’s also important to remind your team that holidays are for recharging; they shouldn’t feel guilty about taking time off or pressured to “make up” for it.  

Summer doesn’t have to mean slower progress and unnecessary pressures. With some forward planning, open communications and willingness to adapt, you can keep your business moving forward while your team enjoys the downtime they’ve earnt.  

If you need extra hands to cover holidays or handle peak workloads, Meridian is here to help. Our team can find reliable temporary staff quickly, so you can focus on running your business without worrying about gaps.