The Holiday Headache That Nearly Broke Us

Full case story

It started small. Someone asked for a week off in August. I said, “Yeah, no worries, just jot it on the whiteboard.” Simple enough, right?

Then someone else booked the same week. Then someone called in sick. And that’s when it hit me, Monday morning, out on site, with barely anyone left to keep the rest of the jobs running.

Turns out, we had no proper system for tracking holiday or absences. Just scraps of paper, word of mouth, and a lot of “I thought you said yes?” Half the team assumed someone else was covering. Deadlines slipped. Clients weren’t happy. And I was running between jobs like a madman just to keep things afloat.

The worst part? One of the team looked at me and said, “It’s not our fault if you don’t keep track.” And honestly? He was right.

Looking back, it could’ve been so different. With SafeHR, every holiday request would’ve gone through one central system. No guesswork. No double-bookings. No more scribbles on a whiteboard. We’d have had a clear policy in writing, how much holiday people can take, when, and how much notice they need to give.

I could’ve seen upcoming time off at a glance, planned around it, and avoided the scramble. And if a clash came up? I’d just pick up the phone and speak to SafeHR’s expert team, real people who understand how small businesses actually run and can help you stay one step ahead.

Absences? Tracked automatically. Instead of getting blindsided, I would’ve had time to plan cover before the Monday chaos even hit.

Looking back, SafeHR could’ve made it simple. Ready-to-go contracts and step-by-step guidance would’ve set clear expectations from day one, even for family. 

And when things got tricky? I wouldn’t have had to guess what to say. I could’ve just picked up the phone and spoken to one of SafeHR’s friendly experts, real people who know their stuff and actually want to help. Having that kind of backup could’ve taken the sting (and stress) out of the whole thing.