Tomorrow, Friday 30th August, will see vacation bookings more than double compared to the daily average for 2024, new data from HR and health & safety software provider BrightHR reveals.
According to statistics from BrightHR’s absence management software, which monitors over 100,000 employees across Canada, vacation bookings for this Friday are up 244% on the daily average for 2024 and 168% on the daily Friday average for 2024.
As staff across the country gear up for an extended Labor Day weekend, employers will face a reduced workforce on what is set to be the fourth most booked-off day of the year so far.
Commenting on the data, Alan Price, CEO at BrightHR says, "Labor Day often prompts people to start booking their ‘public holiday extension’ day. Our records indicate that absence requests for ‘Feet up Friday’ have this month, with most being ‘Last-minute-Larrys’ submitting their requests in the past week.
"This last-minute rush for time off can be a nightmare for employers who haven’t planned for it, especially when weather forecasts change. If the sun icon appears, you can expect a rush for the exits.
"Annual leave is crucial for maintaining a healthy workforce and preventing burnout. However, during busy periods—particularly in retail, tourism, hospitality, healthcare, and other sectors—it may not be possible to approve all leave requests. Problems also arise when multiple staff members submit requests, risking understaffing.
"In such cases, employers may need to decline some time-off requests. It’s not an ideal situation, but businesses need to keep running smoothly.
"Managing these scenarios is risky, especially if decisions are influenced by individual circumstances. A common pitfall is prioritizing employees with children for time off, but they are no more entitled than any other employee.
"That’s why it’s important to have a clear annual leave policy that outlines how leave will be managed, the process for submitting requests, and the criteria for approval. Many companies use a first-come, first-served approach or give priority to employees who haven’t had time off in a while. They may also set a cap on the number of employees who can be off at the same time and require requests to be submitted within a certain timeframe.
"If this policy is well-communicated to the team, along with a fair and documented process, it should significantly reduce the risk of last-minute requests disrupting schedules and depleting team capacity, as well as prevent feelings of discrimination when requests are declined.
“Additionally, absence management and holiday planning tools can help managers plan staffing levels, which is especially important during busy periods like the August bank holiday and Christmas. Even the busiest workplaces can quickly see their team’s absences, and such systems can flag any holiday clashes, preventing chaos before it starts.”