Let’s give employees a rest.
Written by HRuprise founder, Rebecca Weaver.
Paid time off is so crucial to a healthy, thriving workplace!
It gives employees an opportunity to refresh and restore themselves, which in turn helps them be more productive, creative and committed to the company in the long run.
And it gives bosses an opportunity to provide meaningful support for each employee’s unique life needs, cultural background and values.
So if everybody wins from generous PTO, why are most PTO policies so damn stingy?
The average employer in America provides 10 days of PTO per year, plus a few days for sick leave, bereavement and personal use, and a handful of paid holidays.
It adds up to a 2-week vacation, a 1-week head cold, and a couple days off for a death in the family. Not much to build a life on.
In the age of the Great Resignation, employees want to work for companies that understand and support their lives outside of work.
PTO should support the diverse cultures, identities and life structures of your employees.
Paid family leave should cover care for loved ones outside of nuclear family structures.
Paid holidays should be flexible, allowing for the celebration of non-Christian and non-American holidays.
Bereavement leave should apply to the deaths of chosen family members, close friends and even pets as well as “immediate” family. It should also accommodate both mental health needs and multi-day religious bereavement traditions. 3-5 days is not enough.
You should expect employees to use their PTO. No one should feel like they can’t take time off without harming the company or letting their team down.
Employees who take time off will work better and harder for you during their time on.
Generous PTO is one of the surest investments you can make in the health and success of your company.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: REBECCA WEAVER
Rebecca Weaver is the Founder and CEO of HRuprise, a marketplace that connects people with HR coaches to help them grow, develop, and navigate their toughest workplace challenges. LEARN MORE
