Finally! We are making progress with mental health in this part of the world. More people are paying attention and talking about it. Companies and even employees used to only care about financial and physical health. Mental health was that abandoned child no one really cared about.
But it’s good to see we are evolving in the right direction and gradually reversing this trend. One in four Nigerians suffers from one mental health challenge or the other. That’s about 50 million, a ridiculously high number of people, hence it makes sense that we are finally having these conversations.
Irrespective of the aspect of your health you want to prioritize in 2024, self-care is a topic that should always come up. And this is where your leave comes to play.
A study by the National Bureau of Statistics shows that the average Nigerian worker takes only one-third of their annual leave entitlement. This is a trend that needs to change, and you can start the change for yourself by properly planning your leave.
In this piece, we’ll take a look at how to effectively plan your leave in 2024 to ensure you have the needed rest after a long period of work and to prevent burnout.
When it comes to taking time off work, every organization has its own set of rules and regulations, just like every Nigerian has its own set of “house rules” – like not eating the last piece of jollof rice without asking. So, it’s important for you to familiarize yourself with your company’s leave policies.
In some organizations, for instance, you can carry forward unused leave days, while others may have a more strict policy on this. It’s important for you to understand the specific details of your company’s policy, so you don’t end up losing all your leave days just because you couldn’t use them all in one year.
In addition, some organizations may have different policies for different types of leaves, such as vacation leave, sick leave, and personal leave. It’s important for you to be aware of the specific details of each type of leave and how they can be used, or you might find yourself at the office with a fever when you’re supposed to be at home sipping on “agbo” (herbal medicine).
Another important aspect of leave policies is the process for requesting and approving leave. Some Nigerian organizations may have a formal process that must be followed, while others may be more flexible. Some require you to write a formal letter with a letter headed paper addressed to HR and must be signed by your line manager, HR and MD. On the other, hand some organizations have simplified their leave process by using solutions like NotchHR for leave application and approval.
It’s important for you to understand the specific requirements of your organization and to ensure that you follow the correct procedures when requesting time off, or you might find yourself being denied leave because you forgot to cc HR.
For most people, leave is just a short period when your organization allows you to stay at home. With this mindset, many employees do not devote enough time to planning their leave. They just take it as it comes. For you, that should end in 2023.
Planning your leave early also affords you the needed time to plan other aspects of your leave, such as flight & accommodation booking, budgeting, and making sure you have enough funds to cover the expenses of your leave. Planning ahead will also help you to take into consideration other important events or deadlines that may affect your leave.
Also, by planning your leave early, you can ensure that you have enough time to coordinate with your colleagues and manager, confirm your leave with your manager, and make any necessary arrangements before you depart. This will help you to plan your leave in a way that minimizes disruptions to your team and your organization and allows you to make the most out of your time off.
When it comes to planning your leave in Nigeria, it’s important to be strategic about it. You don’t want your leave plans clashing with company plans leaving you with a ‘working from home leave’. One crucial step in this process is to review your work schedule and upcoming projects.
Before planning your leave, you should take a look at your work schedule and upcoming deadlines, projects or key events in your department or organization. This will help you to plan your leave in a way that is least disruptive to your colleagues and your organization.
For example, if you are aware that your team is working on a big project that is due in the next couple of weeks, it may not be the best idea to take your leave during that time. Similarly, if you know that your organization has a big event coming up, you may want to plan your leave before or after the event, to avoid missing out on it.
Another key factor to consider when planning your leave in Nigeria is planning your holiday around key holidays and events in Nigeria. Nigeria has a lot of holidays and events, such as Christmas, New year, Eid-el-Fitr, Eid-el-Kabir, Easter, etc. Planning your leave around these events can give you the opportunity to make the most out of your time off, and create memorable experiences with your loved ones.
Coordinating with your colleagues is an important step when planning your leave in Nigeria. Before you get to planning your leave proper, it’s important to ensure that your absence will not cause any disruptions to your team or projects. By coordinating with your colleagues, you can go on your leave and enjoy your needed break with minimal to no disruptions to your team and the organization.
For instance, you can have a colleague cover your responsibilities while you are away, and make sure that important tasks or projects are completed before you depart. This will ensure that your team is able to continue working smoothly in your absence and that you won’t have to come back to a pile of unfinished work. Also, you can inform your colleagues about your upcoming leave, and ask them to keep you updated on any important developments or changes that take place while you’re away.
By the way, it’s also important to mention that coordination is a two-way street. Hence, in addition to coordinating with your colleagues, you should also make sure that you have properly trained them on your responsibilities and provide them with any information they may need to cover your work while you are away. This way, your colleagues will feel more comfortable and confident in taking on your responsibilities, and you’ll have peace of mind knowing that your work is in good hands while you’re away.
Confirming your leave with your manager is the final step when planning your leave in Nigeria. Once you have applied for your leave, it’s important to inform your manager in person. This will ensure that there are no misunderstandings or confusion regarding your absence, and will also provide your manager with enough notice to make any necessary arrangements.
Additionally, by confirming your leave with your manager, you can also ensure that your manager is aware of any important deadlines or projects that you are working on, and that they are able to provide you with any necessary support or guidance before you depart.
Doing this will not only demonstrate your responsibility and professionalism but also help your manager to be prepared for your absence.
Planning your leave is an important task that requires careful consideration and coordination. By following the five steps outlined in this post, you can plan your leave in a way that minimizes disruptions to your team and your organization, and allows you to make the most out of your time off.
Doing it properly ensures that you take full advantage of your leave entitlement and make the most out of your time off. So, take the time to plan your leave carefully and enjoy the time away from work, recharging your batteries and coming back to work with renewed energy and focus.
NotchHR simplifies the leave application and approval process, eliminates annoying paperworks and reduces to just a couple of clicks for all stakeholders. Tell your HR about NotchHR Today!