Vacation Time!
While I was growing up, my favourite time of year was summer vacation, and it still is. But
with vacation comes an added workload, especially for those of us in the interior plantscape
industry. The work still needs to get done and of course, everyone wants to take the same
two weeks off. Owners, managers and techs alike work double duty to get caught up and
often fill in for others who are on vacation, too.
So here are some tips, garnered from many years of experience, to help everyone enjoy their
summer vacation just a little bit more.
For Owners and Managers:
1. Have a strict written vacation policy that is reviewed during interviews and several times
throughout the year. Have "black-out dates" when no vacation time is granted, such as the
weeks when you are knee-deep in Christmas installations. Limit the number of people who
can be on vacation any given week, with a first-come, first-granted, seniority rules policy.
2. If possible, put one person in charge while you are gone. Put limits on what she can and
cannot do. Make sure she is qualified and trained to take on this responsibility.
3. Decide ahead of time if you want to be contacted during your vacation, and if so under
what circumstances. What constitutes an emergency? Do you want to be called or emailed?
Have a back-up plan in case you are unable to retrieve messages- cell phone service and
internet access can be very limited in some areas, even in high-tech countries.
For Techs:
1. Tell your clients a couple weeks in advance that you will be on vacation. Tell them
someone else will be caring for their plants, but it may be on a different day or time.
2. Water and groom all of your plants well before you leave for vacation. The person covering
your work will have little time to do anything but the basics. If you are treating any plants for
pests or diseases, leave a note with your supervisor.
3. If you are able to help cover someone else's work, do it! Everyone needs to pitch in and
your help will earn you the undying appreciation of your supervisor. You'll need help, too,
when it's time for your vacation.
4. Just do the basics while you are covering for someone else. You don't have the time to
spend hours trimming every little brown tip off the leaves. Get in, get out and get the work
done quickly so you can move on to the next job.
5. Be thankful for the work your helpers did for you while you were away. Yes, their watering
and trimming methods are probably a little different from yours. It's just different, not worse,
than what you do. Griping about it just makes everyone miserable, including you.
For everyone-enjoy your time off! Relax, spend time with family and friends, explore new
cultures, try new foods, exercise your body and mind, and have fun. You'll be reenergized
and ready to see your job with a new perspective once you get back.
This newsletter and all its contents are copyrighted 2007 by Kathy Fediw, Johnson Fediw Associates.