It’s been said that during the iPhone 4’s launch, Apple instituted a vacation blackout for several weeks at its Apple Store locations. Much as employers would love to do something like this during the holidays, it’s just not realistic. So how does an employer avoid a mass exodus?

The key is to be proactive and get ahead with better planning. To plan better, a time tracking software solution (like Replicon’s TimeOff) is key. A quality time off tracking system will calculate and monitor time taken off by employees and the financial implications that it will have on the business.

Paid time off, unless carefully supervised can morph into serious organizational and project liabilities. While it is important to be a family-friendly organization, it is also important to put a ceiling on the high costs of paid time off.

Unfortunately, many companies still rely on manual time tracking systems. They are inexpensive upfront but come with a number of inconveniences such as being prone to errors, inefficient and unreliable which translate to higher costs. In contrast, a cloud-based, automated, intuitive time tracking software can catapult an organization to higher levels of efficiency in avoiding a sudden employee exodus.

The benefits of cloud-based time and attendance include:

• Real-time viewing of time off balances which makes scheduling time easier.
• Easy integration with existing HR or payroll systems.
• Avoiding compliance issues that could snowball into a thorny legal matter for the organization.

For a happy holiday season, it is important to set expectations early on, make employees aware of critical tasks which need to be completed and – above all – be prepared for sudden and unannounced time off with a dependable, cloud-based time tracking software.

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving and happy holidays!