BrightHR has seen a 59% increase in the number of leave requests submitted for this Monday (18th July)

Last Monday saw close to a 70% (68) increase in requests so it seems everyone is making the best of the weather.

But how do you manage absence rates when everyone wants to be off?

Alan Price, CEO at Bright HR, says: “Annual leave requests always pile up once the weather gets better. The beautiful weather we’ve seen recently has put everyone in the holiday mood, and with it predicted to be even hotter this coming week, many are wanting to make the most of it.

It’s important that you don’t leave yourself understaffed so check your annual leave caps prior to accepting any requests.

“People in Essex have booked the most annual leave during this heatwave. Try to be flexible where possible to keep everyone happy but remind staff that can always enjoy the sunshine before and after work and during breaks.

“There was also a 15% increase in the average number of sickness last week with Kent having the highest rates across the country.

“When an employee calls in sick when the weather is good it can be easy to jump to conclusion, but don’t assume that every absence is fake.

“The average number of sicknesses also rose by 15% last week and while there will be genuine cases of illness – especially with rising Covid rates – it can be tempting for staff to use sick leave to enjoy the heat.

“Continue your usual absence management procedures as normal and if you have some concerns consider asking employees to call in rather than text or email.

“Make sure that all absences are recorded. That way you can look for patterns in case some employees have a habit of calling in sick whenever the weather heats up.”