Can You Contact an Employee on Annual Leave?

According to research, 75% of employees are contacted by their work when they are on holiday. Employees are entitled to annual leave, and it should be a time for them to unwind, rest, and switch off from work. However, there might be a genuine reason you need to contact the employee, and you may be wondering about the rules for contacting staff after hours. These are some things to consider before attempting to contact an employee on annual leave.

Is it a Genuine Emergency?

It is not acceptable to contact an employee who is on annual leave for a non-urgent matter. You should only ever contact them in a genuine emergency, for example, if they are the only person with the password to a system or if you need a key or van from them. Even if you are friendly with the person, it is not appropriate to contact them about work. When you do this, it does not allow them to switch off from work, which can be damaging to mental well-being.

Consider the form of Communication

Even in a genuine emergency, consider the type of communication you use. For instance, a phone call can be disruptive and can feel demanding to the individual. Instead, try to contact them via text or WhatsApp first and then consider if you need to give them a call. In this way, they can respond at their leisure; rather than feeling the need to drop everything to answer a phone call.

Avoid Work Emails

You should never ask the employee to check their work emails and respond to anything when they are on annual leave. It is unfair and will make them feel that even on annual leave, they still have their head at work.

Why is Annual Leave Important?

You might think that it’s reasonable to contact your employees when they are on annual leave, especially if you have a close relationship. However, instead of thinking ‘they won’t mind’ consider the purpose of annual leave and why it is essential for their wellbeing.

Time to Destress

Work can be challenging and stressful at times, and it can often lead to employees feeling anxious and burnt out. Holidays are a time for employees to disengage from their jobs to enjoy some personal time with their loved ones. If you are contacting an employee about working during their holidays, you are not allowing them to focus their attention solely on their downtime and families.

Increase Productivity

A well-rested employee will work harder and be more productive. Employees will return to work feeling more energetic and more engaged with their work. Some employees even look forward to returning to work after a break; as they enjoy the routine.

Improved Physical Health

We all need time to rest our bodies, regardless of the type of job we do. An opportunity to sleep later and enjoy life at a more leisurely pace can improve both physical and emotional well-being.

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