How to fairly schedule staff’s summer vacations in advance?

This was the question posed by one HR staffer to the HR Specialist Forum at Business Management Daily. This HR staffer was worried that staff schedules in the summer months could interfere with delivery schedules. Here were some of the suggestions offered by other HR professionals on how to approach scheduling staff for summer vacations:

1. Set a minimum time period for notice. eg. at least 3 days advanced notice.
2. Establish black out dates for the summer period ahead of time.
3. Communicate concerns to staff and ask if possible that they would be willing to collaborate on a schedule that would not have multiple staffers off at the same time.
4. Consider a first come-first served approach and a maximum number of staff who can be off at the same time.

The key was flexibility, with the understanding that staff should be encouraged to take earned vacation time. They will be more productive when they come back and the company will be better off.

Scheduling Mix Up for South African Cricket Team

A scheduling mix up at the cricket grounds in London last week, left the South African cricket team with no place to practise as they ramped up for the start of the ICC World Twenty 20 tournament.

"We had a scheduled training at Southgate and when we rocked up there it wasn't scheduled in their books so we had to make our way from Southgate to Lord's to train," said captain Graeme Smith.

The ICC World Twenty20 tournament schedule is here!

Texas Living History Online Calendar

The Texas Living History online calendar is another great example of how The Calendar Planner can be used to publish web calendars for very little cost.

Nonprofit organizations get a 20% discount on The Calendar Planner and so for less than $80 an organization can have a calendar online with no recurring costs.

Texas Living History calendar
More about web publishing with The Calendar Planner

Sample Student 24-Hour Clock

Ever wonder how college students schedule their day?

Take a look at this 24-hour clock time management tool at Study Guide and Strategies to help college students see how they schedule their days.

Here are the categories that students are expected to schedule time for in any 24-hour period.

- Classes
- Studying
- Sleeping
- Exercise/sports
- Work/internship
- Family commitments
- Personal care/grooming
- Meal preparation/eating/clean-up
- Transportation (school, work, etc.)
- Relaxing/TV/video games, etc. (alone)
- Socializing/entertainment (with friends)
- Other