Tomorrow is the 4th of July! Time to enjoy BBQ, fireworks and much needed time away from the workplace. Whether you are taking one day off for the holiday or enjoying an extended weekend away from work, it's necessary to plan ahead for your time out of the office. According to a survey by Glassdoor, it was found that when Americans do use their vacation time, two out of three people are still checking into work anyways. Are you the 2/3 people doing this? It's time to plan ahead and enjoy your weekend without your work following you home.
Check out our OOO checklist to enjoy your holiday below:
1: Mark your vacation time
Is telling everyone at your company about your OOO time an undaunting task? Be sure to mark your electronic calendar the dates you won't be at work. That way if anyone from any department is wondering where you are, they can access your schedule without a hassle on either side. Open communication is key for success and less stress when taking a vacation!
2: Create OOO messages.
With the hustle and bustle of last-minute tasks to complete, forgetting your OOO messages can be easily forgotten. Make sure to record an OOO voicemail and create an automatic OOO email during your time out of the workplace. Don't forget to include a point of contact while you are away and when you will be back to work.
3: Automate as many tasks as possible
With the help of technology, many tasks can be automated without your physically doing it at the time it happens. Are you in charge of ordering office supplies? Make sure you place an order to automate while you are away. Check out Warehouse Direct's (WD) Mobile Ordering App* that makes your office supply orders as easy as 1-2-3.
*Account ID: WD1601 (only need to enter once)
User ID: Same as your WD e-commerce site
Password: Same as your WD e-commerce site
4: Get in touch with your co-workers
Heading out of the workplace for an extended weekend? Be sure to contact all your co-workers you need to delegate tasks to while you are away. Keep in mind that they have their own tasks to fulfill, so giving them as much notice as possible will be appreciated. Detail anything that they may not know so they won't contact you while you are away.
4: Update your boss
Let your boss know who will be handling your duties while you are on vacation. Not only will it help your boss know who to check in with on certain projects, but they will also appreciate that you took the responsibility to make sure everything was covered.
5: Contact your clients
Make sure your top clients know what's going on before you leave the office. Doing this extra step shows you value their business, rather than them find out your OOO status via automated email or voicemail. Be sure to keep them in the loop when you will be back and who they should contact while you are away.
6: Clean your desk.
There is nothing worse than coming back to your desk and it's a mess. Be sure to take time the day before your vacation to tidy up your space, make sure the garbage is thrown away, and overall clean your space. You will be refreshed when you walk-in to work to a clean space to be productive in!
8: Say your goodbyes.
As others are getting ready for the holidays, be sure to say goodbye to everyone prior to your departure. It's a nice gesture to remind those you work with the most you will be OOO and an opportunity to answer any last minute questions. This is also a good time to let them know if you will be available by phone or email. If you took care of the steps above, more than likely no one will be calling you while you are on vacation.
Putting forth the extra effort to cover all your bases before you are OOO will make you truly enjoy your time off. Happy 4th of July from WD!