With the arrival of the summer coupled with kids’ summer holidays, also comes a recurrent problem for many practices- piling staff holiday requests! This is inevitably going to cause difficulties for GP Managers in having to disappoint some of their staff, without putting the practice at risk.
Strict healthcare regulators are tightening their grip over staffing at healthcare facilities to ensure there is sufficient staff to provide patient care while handling regular administrative work. Consequently it is a season that will test the patience of even the most tolerant Manager. Hence the first step in getting through this season without jeopardising the practice, staff morale and one’s sanity is to be able to say NO!
Here are few helpful tips in mastering the art of saying NO to holiday requests:
- Tact is possibly the most important trait to be adopted by a good Manager in handling staff holiday requests. So the level of understanding shown to the employee along with provision of a logical reason for rejecting the holiday request will ensure staff remain positive throughout.
- Implement a holiday request policy: in discussion with the team, it is always advisable to implement this policy before the holiday season starts, preferably on a first-come, first-served basis.
- Alternative planning: Be willing and prepared to offer alternative dates for the employee or else consider offering an incentive for being accommodative towards the rest of the team. This could be offered in cash or kind, depending on the practice, its Management and employees.
- Be approachable! Many employees would remember the one time you say NO as opposed to the multiple times you’ve said Yes! Be approachable in your persona, to ensure employees retain the relationship even after you’ve said no.
- Appreciate the employee, especially when having to turn down their holiday request. This will ensure that they understand your grounds for rejecting the holiday request, bears no affiliation towards their performance.
