Top tips to cope while your staff are on holiday

With the summer holiday season about to begin, the ICAEW has provided small businesses with some tips on how to cope while staff are away.

Clive Lewis, Head of SME Issues at the ICAEW, said: "This is the time of year when most staff will be taking their holidays. This year, with credit being stretched because of the credit crunch, it is essential for firms to examine their debt collection and bill paying procedures, and ensure proper safeguards are in place. Planning ahead can help minimise disruption and keep the cash flowing".

Top Ten Tips

1. Getting cash into your business is as critical as paying out. At holiday times you will have staff away – but so have your customers. Plan ahead to avoid payment delays

2. Make sure invoices are still paid on time otherwise you could incur penalties

3. If the person authorising payment is away, make sure that someone else can authorise it in their absence

4. Make sure staff provide a proper handover and that enough time is given to it before people go away

5. If you deal with businesses abroad make a note of their national holidays

6. Make sure that staff use their email out-of-office reply and that there is an alternative contact given

7. See if staff are happy for others to have access to view their emails. This may help avoid any nasty surprises when they return

8. Debrief people when they get back – this will make them feel important to the organisation

9. Once people have returned from holiday, give them time to adjust. However try to make sure that people regain their productivity quite quickly

10. Suggest that staff book their next holiday soon after they get back – this will give them something to look forward to and will also help you plan ahead