Fall is here! And that means the holiday season will soon be upon us.

Many workers start planning for time off as news of family gatherings and other events begin to trickle in, making it a prime time to start requesting time off for the holidays. Often, asking to use vacation time is an awkward experience. Some employees worry they’ll look like they are shirking their duties by trying to spend some time away from the office or that people will assume they aren’t a team player.

However, it is healthy to take some time off during the holiday season, especially if you haven’t used many vacation days throughout the year. But, to make sure your request is approved, you need to approach the issue the right way. Here’s how.

Before you request any time off, you need to make sure you understand the policies and procedures surrounding the use of vacation time. Almost every business has rules, both formal and informal, governing what is and is not acceptable. So, make sure you review any applicable policies and consider any unspoken guidelines regarding taking a vacation before you speak to your manager.

Even if your request is well inside the rules, your personal workload also plays a factor in having your request approved. For example, if a major deadline or project milestone falls within the period you are hoping to be away, your request may be denied due to these obligations. In cases such as these, it may be wise to adjust your timing so that you can be at work for these important moments.

If your duties will be covered by other team members during your absence, you also want to take this into consideration. If that person is already scheduled to be off at that time, it is unlikely your request will also be approved. You may also need to create a plan that makes it easy for other employees to manage the portions of your workload that will be passed on to them. That way, they have all the information available to be successful, and nothing slips through the cracks.

The more notice you can give your manager, the easier it is to make adjustments for coverage. As soon as you have some dates nailed down, plan to sit down with your boss as soon as possible. However, don’t make formal plans for your vacation until it is officially approved. Even if you ask early, your request can still be denied, so don’t spend money on things like plane tickets until you know everything is good to go.

We all have good days and bad days, and discussing your travel plans with your boss when they are stressed or in a rush isn’t going to increase your odds of being approved. Instead, try to catch them when they are in a good move and have some time to spare. That way, everything is calm, making it easier to have a conversation about your request.

In the end, your manager may have the final say regarding your request for time off. Additionally, they may be aware of projects or deadlines that haven’t been shared with the team, and might not have any choice but to deny your request. If they say no, you need to accept the decision. Then, you can see if another time may be acceptable and adjust your plans accordingly.

If you would like to know more about requesting time off or are hoping to find a new job before the year is over, the team at TempStaff wants to hear from you. Contact us to see how our knowledgeable staff can help you reach your employment goals.