There’s no denying that some of us get really nervous when it comes to asking for a leave of absence from work, especially when it’s to go on holiday! From the guilt that we dared to plan some time away from the office (what were we thinking?) to the guilt that we’ll be enjoying some well-deserved time off while our colleagues slave away at their desks, and then there are those horrible days filled with dread as we wait and wonder if the boss will approve our request for leave… sometimes it can all get a little nerve-wracking.
Well, we can’t control your guilt (you just have to convince yourself that you deserve this holiday), but we do have some tips that might help speed up the leave-approval process for your boss.
- Inform your immediate supervisor about your plans to take leave
Approach your direct manager or supervisor that you report to before putting in a formal application. Tell them the dates when you are planning to take leave and say that you just wanted to check with them if this is all right and that it will not disrupt workflow. They will appreciate you letting them know first instead of being caught clueless when asked about it from a higher boss or the HR department.
- Put in an early request for your time-off
Allow for ample lead time before your holiday dates when requesting to take leave. This will give your boss or bosses time to re-arrange the working schedule, review your current work and upcoming submissions and see if the timing permits for some time off. Bring up your plans with your immediate supervisor about one month or one and a half months in advance, if possible. You might even have another colleague planning to take leave around the same time, and if your workplace has a policy not allowing two team members to be away at the same time, it will work in your favour to be the one who ‘applied months ago’.
- Figure out the best time to ask for your holidays…
Ok, when it comes to the perfect time to apply for leave, you have to call upon your superpower here and be a mind-reader. Don’t worry, it’s not really that hard. In fact, in the working world, it’s called: Managing expectations.
What you need to do is observe how busy the person you are about to approach is. For example, if your supervisor or boss has a full day scheduled with back-to-back meetings, they most likely do not want to hear about your plans to go on holiday. Keep in mind, even your boss might be stressed, nervous about a presentation they’re giving, or too preoccupied with all the extra work to consider your request – hey, they’re human, too! Similarly, if there is a major problem at work needing some quick, decisive action, a request for a holiday will most likely not be appreciated at that time. Try to catch your boss in a good mood – or, at least, normal working mood, if they are the perpetually-grumpy kind of person. You will need to let your holiday application take a back seat to any work problems to show that you are a dedicated worker and team-player who wants what’s best for the company (even though under the surface you can’t wait to get out of the office and party it up in Ibiza!).
- …but don’t ask your boss for annual leave approval too early!
You don’t want your boss to forget that you mentioned about applying for leave aeons ago. Nor do you want to keep reminding them every few weeks, because that would just be annoying. Just be aware of the minimum number of days in advance needed before applying for leave as specified by your company. Some companies might want their employees to apply for leave 2 months before the holiday date.
- Avoid asking your boss to approve your leaves on Mondays or Fridays
Why? Because Monday is the first day of the work week, when most bosses are intent on mapping out all their work responsibilities for the entire week, and probably also chasing up on work that should have been completed last week, while Friday is the day when everyone is scrambling to finish up work before their managers ask for it the next Monday. Your best bet would probably be Wednesday – try to pick a time when things seem ‘slow’.
- Finish up your responsibilities as much, and as early, as possible
Get on the front foot by showing your boss that you’re responsibly planning for your own absence. The more tasks you can take care of in advance, the less potential for crises when you’re away – and the less headaches for your boss. This might require you to do some overtime at work, but it will all feel worth it once you’re enjoying that holiday. Also don’t forget – some bosses like to phone or message their workers even when they’re on holiday – if you don’t want this to happen to you, it pays to tie up as many loose ends as possible before you go.
- Be extra helpful to your boss before you go on leave
Be proactive! Ask your boss what you can do to help work go as smoothly as possible while you are away. If you need to send in some work way in advance, even work that is actually due after you come back from your break, get it done! This will also give you more breathing space once you get back to work.
- Follow due process and be patient.
Even in the most casual of workplaces, it is best to make your application for taking leave according to the process outlined in your HR manual. It all depends on your company – whether you have to fill out a form on your computer and then print it out, or fill it online on an internal network, or fill up a roster on the whiteboard, make sure you do it right. And once you’ve put in your request, try to resist the temptation to constantly prod your boss for approval. Give them time to figure out their work reshuffle plan, and only ask nearer to the date if they haven’t approved your leave, say, two weeks before your holiday date.
Ready to try it out? Best of luck on your upcoming requests!
