Lessons from a growing company ... especially around public holidays ...

Public holidays are great, but a chinese-torture to employers. Not only do holidays need to be paid for, but staff on "stand-by" need to be scheduled and backup plans put into place.

What can you do to minimise downtime and make the most out of public holidays:

• Know your staff schedule
  It is important to know who takes time off in between public holidays but assume staff not on your scheduled leave list will also call in "sick".
• Have a "backup-backup" plan

  For public holidays where "stand by" staff are not on call, have two or three alternate numbers clients' can call for assistance.
• Re-adjust deadlines

  The month of consists of 18 working days. Of these the 8th, 15th and 29th are Fridays and the 9th, 16th and 30th are Mondays.
  
  Scenario 1: 25% of your staff call in sick on either the Friday or Monday, this leaves your workforce very thin. Communication to clients' that any projects in April will add "X" amount of days to the project deadline will save any shouting matches from happening later in the month.
• Plan ahead of time
  The two major disruptions in the year are April (Easter) and December (Christmas). Knowing this and planning ahead will save you from those stressful situations arising during the holiday time.

Either way, in between the back up plans public holidays exist and if you can, try and enjoy it.