Holiday Absence Toolkit
Make December fair, calm and covered — without playing favourites
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It’ll land in your inbox in under a minute.
Visibility beats chaos.
Plan time off, protect wellbeing and keep the lights on when everyone wants the same week off.
Why this matters
December piles on: peak demand for leave, skeleton crews, and “Can I still take next week?” messages that hit at 4.55pm. The fix isn’t heroics — it’s a shared view of who’s off, who’s covering, and what can wait. This toolkit gives you that view plus the scripts to back it up.
What you get (free)
- December One-Pager Template — your visual command centre for deadlines, who’s off, and who’s covering.
- Cover-Drill Worksheet — lock coverage before anyone sets their OOO; five minutes now saves hours later.
- Handover Note (copy-paste) — what’s happening, who’s covering, when you’re back. 
- Off Means Off” Script — set healthy boundaries so time off is actual rest. 
- Late Leave Request Response — a calm, fair reply that checks coverage before you commit. 
- Fair Coverage Systems — first-come-first-served, rotation, and department limits — simple rules that staff accept.
Inside the pack you’ll also find energy & efficiency tips for skeleton crews and a short December action plan so this doesn’t become “same panic, next year.”
Who it’s for
- SMEs and solo HR who need something practical today
- Line managers juggling handovers, client deadlines and inbox boomerangs
- Owners/Directors who want fairness without faff (and fewer Slack pings)
“Is this UK-ready?”
Yes — it’s written in plain English for UK employers and focuses on practical fairness, coverage and wellbeing. Use it alongside your own holiday/OOO policy and contract terms.
About Kate
I’m Kate Underwood, the straight-talking HR partner behind Buzzing About HR. I help SMEs run fair, daylight-proof people practices that work in the real world — particularly when December chaos hits.
Light legal note (UK-only)
This is general guidance, not legal advice. If you’ve got a live, contentious situation, get tailored support early. 
FAQs
Is it really plug-and-play?
Yes. The templates are fill-in-the-blanks, and the scripts are copy-paste — edit names, dates, done. 
What if multiple people want the same dates?
Use the rotation or first-come system plus department limits; it’s transparent and easy to explain. 
Will staff actually follow “Off Means Off”?
They do when you set expectations in advance and sort handovers properly — both are included. 
Does it cover skeleton crews?
Yes — there’s guidance on smart scheduling, cross-training and maintaining energy when you’re lean.
Is it really free?
Yep — pop in your email and I’ll send the pack.
Can I print it?
Yes — A4-friendly (and crisp if you scale up).