What does everyone do about holiday cover? I have several 'weekly' clients. Last year we only went away for a few days anyway, so I managed. But if we want an actual holiday - for a week - I guess I just have to miss a week. This obviously means that they don't have their accounts done, and I don't get paid!
All my clients would be OK about this, but I don't think I would want to do it too often, for them or me.
Is there any way that a system could be set up with holiday cover, or does this come under MLR regulations ie the holiday cover would have to have them registered to them as well?
Make sure everything is totally up to date before going and anything that can be done in advance is - eg using internet banking with forward payment dates or post date cheques and stick in envelopes with posting dates. Enter all on system. Do payroll in advance - could involve reajustment following period if hourly paid and hours vary. Could mean extra hours in week before going. Then on return catching up - again could involve extra hours thereby replacing the missed income of the holiday week. However, you should price your work to take into account holiday "pay".
-- Edited by semsley on Tuesday 3rd of November 2009 08:29:30 PM
Admittedly used to have quite a few a year but since opening a internet/gaming cafe, IT shop in December 08 have struggled even to get a full weekend off.
Hopefully may get some time off Christmas period, starting a new job on Monday that has a Christmas shutdown and hopefully clients won't pile up the work on me and someone else will be running the internet cafe.
Holidays are important, so let your clients know you need to recharge your batteries from time to time just as they do! When you work on your own holidays are difficult, but even more important as when you relax, you have time to re-evaluate how the business is going and get creative about what to do next.
I've found that there are good times to go away and bad. Work during the first and last weeks of the month are usually more time sensitive (VAT Returns, Statements, Payroll, Debtors list etc...) So I try and arrange holidays for the middle of the month and as has been said before get ahead and catch up the week after. Also, have a look at your 3 monthly cycle. Can you fit a week off into a month when you'll have less quarterly work to do and no year ends pressing? Finally, what about Wednesday to Wednesday holidays? For a picky client if you work Tuesday, then Thursday when you come back, it'll feel like you didn't miss a complete week.
I recently took a 1 week holiday and arranged for all my calls to be forwarded to a local call answering service who then emailed me at the end of each day with any calls and messages, took my laptop and memory sticks with me and worked at the apartment for no more than 1 hour each morning before breakfast just dealing with anything which urgently needed attention. As I use VOIPfone it was very cheap, 2p/min, to make calls back to anyone in the uk. I just had to make sure that the apartment we stayed at had wifi to enable my laptop to gain internet connection.
I wouldn't have been able to relax at all by going away and not knowing what I may have been missing out on so for my own peace of mind I took my office with me.
But as MarkL says a holiday is very important for both yourself and your client
Thank you to all who replied - some really good common sense points. The point about 'good times and bad times' to go away is particularly good. Also, just to accept that you work more in the week before and week after. I will sit down and try and work out some good dates.
The only thing after that is to persuade my workaholic husband to take time off.........
I love the fact that this forum is so friendly and helpful.
