How to Make Use of Your Employer Paid Time Off
Holidays have become part and parcel of our lives. They remind us of family, friends, and of the fundamental values of family and friendship. Holidays can be associated with religious events or can even be related to the festive season. A holiday is an idyllic day set aside in accordance by law or custom whereby all normal activities, particularly work or business involving school, are halted or reduced for a certain period of time. In most cases, holidays are designed to enable people to commemorate or celebrate an occasion or of spiritual or cultural meaning.
Holiday periods differ according to different countries. For example, in Canada, government holidays and public holidays are paid holidays. On the other hand, the British, Germany and many other European countries consider public holidays as paid time off. The main difference between holidays and paid holidays is that employers do not pay employees for their annual holidays except in the case of Canada. If an employee takes annual holidays, the employer must pay the employee for these holidays even if the employee has not taken a sick leave.
The benefits of employer-paid holidays for employees are that it offers them an excuse not to get involved in unnecessary conflicts over work matters and hence, they do not get into trouble for being absent from work unnecessarily. Moreover, they also ensure that employees manage their work better and do their work better. They can also be used for recreational purposes like vacations. Holidays that are organized by the employer to help employees concentrate better on their work. If an employee gets annual leave but fails to use his leave properly or if he quits without informing the employer – it will automatically be considered as an employer-paid holiday.
Employers also consider holidays time off when they reduce their employee’s leave because it helps them save on travel and operating costs. Sometimes, people fail to use their paid holidays because they do not inform their employer about their intention to take a holiday or they forget to inform the employer about the date of their annual holidays. It is important to inform the employer about your intention to go on a holiday even if you are not sure if it falls within the terms and conditions of the company policy. Failure to inform the employer about holidays that you intend to take may lead the company into problems like paying tax at a higher rate or having to deduct money from your salary. To avoid all these problems, always inform the employer about your planned holidays well in advance.
If you are lucky enough to get employer-paid holidays, you should use this time off wisely. You should spend the time off wisely so that it does not waste your work permit. Most of the time, it is not compulsory to report back to your employer on your annual holidays unless you have some other appointment that requires your attention. It is good to use your annual holidays in a productive manner to increase your skill level. On the other hand, you should not use your holidays to burnout and overbook your shifts just for the sake of taking a break.
In general, it is best to avoid using your employer-paid holidays for business trips and celebrations. It is important to plan your breaks and holidays properly so that you can enjoy them in the best possible way. In addition, if you are on frequent business trips, it is wise to allocate regular days for your breaks during which you can go off and recharge yourself for the next week. Plan carefully and you will find that your breaks do not become a burden in any way.
