Our Top Tips for Holiday Cover for Small Teams

Holidays should be refreshing and not stressful for employees and employers. Ena - HR & Training Ltd.

Summer holidays should bring joy, not chaos. For small teams, managing leave can be tricky—but with thoughtful planning and clear communication, it’s entirely doable. In this blog, we share practical tips to help your business stay productive while supporting well-earned rest. From rotating leave requests and assigning deputies to streamlining handovers and outsourcing support, we’ve got strategies to ease the pressure. Whether you're prepping for peak annual leave or building better resilience year-round, these insights will help your team navigate holiday season smoothly—and return refreshed, respected, and ready to go.

1. Rotate and Prioritise Leave Requests Implement a first-come, first-served system or prioritise based on business needs. A shared leave calendar helps avoid overlap and ensures transparency.

2. Create a Skills Matrix Map out who can do what. Cross-train team members in core functions so no single person becomes irreplaceable for business continuity.

3. Assign a Deputy For each role, assign a temporary cover buddy who can handle time-sensitive queries. Provide quick-reference guides for key tasks.

4. Use Checklists for Handovers Encourage a 10-minute handover chat and a one-page checklist: urgent tasks, deadlines, key contacts, and “watch outs.”

5. Limit Non-Essential Tasks Streamline expectations. Put longer-term projects on pause and focus on must-dos to avoid overwhelm for the covering team.

6. Explore Temporary or Outsourced Support If budgets allow, consider freelancers or short-term contracts—or partner with HR experts like Ena HR & Training to maintain critical processes like recruitment and compliance.

7. Communicate Clearly and Early Let clients and suppliers know who's available and who to contact. A well-crafted out-of-office message can reroute queries and manage expectations.

8. Recognise and Reward Cover Efforts A thank-you lunch or bonus leave day goes a long way. Acknowledge the extra effort with something meaningful.