Manchester, UK – 21st June 2024
After months of miserable weather, the UK is finally set to experience a heatwave next week, with temperatures predicted to reach as high as 29C and match those in Ibiza.
According to leading HR software provider BrightHR, there was a 150% uplift in annual leave taken on Friday 21st June compared with the month’s daily average, with hotter weather, Euros mania, and summer solstice celebrations all coming together to make it one of the most booked-off days of the year.
As temperatures continue to soar next week, businesses will find themselves facing a flurry of last-minute sickness, absences, and annual leave requests, as Alan Price, CEO at BrightHR, warns:
“If previous heatwaves in the UK are anything to go by, businesses should be preparing themselves for a whirlwind of HR chaos, from employees calling in sick to enjoy the sun to a flood of last-minute holiday requests.
“During the heatwave in June 2022, annual leave requests increased by 139% on the daily average and sickness absences by 123%. If we see a similar situation next week, that could mean an additional 100,000 employees who use our platform across the UK requesting annual leave as they gear up to get out of the office and onto their sun loungers.
“It’s understandable that after months of rain and below-average temperatures, people up and down the country are excited to put their laptops away and soak up some sun. What’s less exciting for business owners and HR managers, though, is the tidal wave of absences that will accompany this, leading to dips in productivity and potentially a substantial hit to profits.
“Thankfully, there are strategies employers can use to lessen the impact of a heatwave on workplace management. For example, you could choose to embrace flexible working requests and let staff work from home on hotter days, as long as you make sure you have a clear Flexible Working Policy in place and guidelines for remote working.
“Alternatively, you could use a rota scheduling software to help manage annual leave requests from across your business. Tools like these give you a birds-eye view of staffing levels on different days, helping you determine whether you have the resources to grant impromptu holiday requests.
“Ultimately, though, it’s up to business owners to decide whether or not they grant last-minute leave requests. Employers should remind staff of the terms in their contracts, policies, and company handbooks regarding the required notice period for taking leave—and remember that they have reasonable grounds to refuse any requests that would leave them understaffed. Sharing this information with all employees can help curb a wave of spontaneous requests and keep productivity high.”