BCEA requirements / Company policy: An employee accrues at least 1.25 days each month from date engaged, which is 15 days (about 2 weeks) in a cycle of 1 year.
Company Policy: Employee receives an additional 5 days once they reach 5 years with the business, giving them a total of 20 days p.a.
The Employee will need to instruct Human Resources to change the entitlement on ESS from 15 days to 20 days.
BENEFITS OF ANNUAL LEAVE FOR EMPLOYEES’ HEALTH AND WELLBEING:
REDUCING STRESS:
Holidays help us to feel better as they remove us from the tasks or environments that cause feelings of stress and anxieties. This can help our overall mental and physical health by reducing the impacts of stress like stomach problems, headaches or difficulty concentrating.
IMPROVED MOOD:
Taking a well-needed break from the pressures of deadlines and workload can make us feel calmer and more relaxed, giving a boost to our overall mood.
AN OVERALL HEALTH BOOST:
Workers who don’t have a healthy work-life balance can become unwell, which can result in your employees taking time off sick.
Annual leave is vital to promote good physical and mental health in the workplace and will improve employees work-life balance. It allows individuals to take time to rest and re-energise which can result in stress reduction and improve mood, benefiting staff morale. Employees who take regular annual leave holidays can perform more efficiently and have higher motivation compared to those who do not.
SO, WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?
Take your leave and enjoy!
If you check your pay slip, you should see a number that indicates the amount of leave days you have – but how often do you use that leave? And more importantly, how often should you take leave?
This function saves battery life. Think about the last time you had too many tabs, files or apps open on your computer, and how the device became sluggish. Humans are the same – if our bodies and minds are switched on in ‘work’ mode 24/7, it results in inefficient performance, exhaustion and errors, as well as mood changes such as becoming more sensitive, more reactive, and less tolerant.
The importance of taking annual leave
It’s important for people to take time off. All the research shows that proper rest periods improve wellness, reduce stress and increase productivity. Under South African labour law, it is mandatory for employers to give paid leave to employees.
It is best to take chunks, rather than a day here and a day there, but whether you choose to take two two-week holidays in a year, or one four-week holiday is up to you. Personally, I’m a fan of two holidays a year – and I really feel it when I have not had a break in more than six months.
If it is not possible to take regular leave throughout the year, you do need to make the time to take a break from “work mode”. Regular mini-breaks tend to work better as there is a periodic opportunity to recharge and reset. It’s good for you and it’s good for the company
IDENTIFY BURNOUT
Burnout starts with the feeling there is too much to do, but somehow this is managed by skimping on sleep, social activity, and other ‘luxuries’ that get in the way of work.
Then exhaustion sets in, along with mood and body symptoms, for example, irritability, tearfulness, inexplicable aches and pains, headaches and digestive issues.
In the beginning, there is still an internal – and sometimes external – pressure to achieve, and willpower can keep you going along with very short breaks. After a prolonged period, cynicism and lack of meaning sets in, along with more apparent mood, body and behavioural symptoms – you may need caffeine to get started in the morning, you develop sugar cravings, and your sleep is impaired. Your performance starts to drop, and mistakes occur due to fatigue, poor concentration and poor memory.
Planning your annual leave is the first step you can take to avoid burnout. Factors contributing to burnout include high stress, a heavy workload, a lack of control over job situations, emotional support, and long work hours. Over time, this will lead to physical wear and tear.
Signs of BURNOUT include:
- The feeling of lack of control over commitments
• Loss of purpose
• Loss of motivation
• Detachment from relationships
• Feeling tired and lethargic
• Feeling that you’re accomplishing less
• Increased tendency to think negatively
Learning to switch off
It takes time to shift from work mode into rest/play mode, especially mentally. If it feels too difficult to shut down from work completely, especially if you run your own business and feel uncomfortable being away for too long you could compromise,” she says. “Be available for phone or mail contact once (or twice) daily, at a set time, and not for too long (30-60 minutes).”