Beyond Coverage: How Extended Absences Can Strengthen Your Team

Leave is a valuable benefit we all enjoy, allowing us time for personal needs and to return refreshed. However, covering for our peers extended absences can sometimes lead to overwork and stress. Here’s how we can transform this challenge into a positive experience that fosters teamwork, learning, and a supportive work environment.

We’re a Team, We Help Each Other:

• Strength in Numbers: When someone needs extended time off, it’s a chance for our team to come together and support each other. By sharing the workload, we ensure everything keeps running smoothly.
• Everyone Benefits: The colleague on leave can focus on their personal needs and return refreshed. The rest of the team gains valuable experience and strengthens their skillsets.
• Building Camaraderie: Helping out demonstrates our commitment to teamwork and fosters a sense of camaraderie within the team.

Focus on Learning and Growth:

• Upskilling Opportunity: Covering for a colleague allows us to learn new skills and broaden our knowledge base. This benefits the individual and strengthens the overall team expertise.
• Career Development: Taking on additional responsibilities showcases our initiative and adaptability, which is valuable for career advancement.
• Shared Knowledge: By documenting our learnings and experiences during coverage, we create a valuable knowledge base that benefits everyone in the future.

Maintain a Positive and Supportive Environment:

• Open Communication: Clear communication with the colleague on leave and amongst the team keeps everyone informed and reduces stress. Of course, if the colleague is out on protected leave, such as the Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA), there might be restrictions on communication. In my experience, a designated leave professional would be assigned to facilitate communication with the employee on leave as needed, answer questions from the team, and ensure compliance with applicable regulations.
• Sharing the Load: By working together and dividing tasks effectively, we can avoid burnout and maintain a positive work environment.
• Celebrating Success: Recognizing both the colleague’s return and the team’s achievements during their absence strengthens team spirit and reinforces the value of helping each other.

By framing covering for a colleague’s absence this way, you emphasize the positive aspects of teamwork, professional development, and overall team success. It highlights the supportive nature of your workplace and encourages everyone to see it as a chance to learn and grow together.

What would you add?

By: Elizabeth Hill, Associate Director, University of Colorado Boulder and co-editor of Ombuzz with editing help from Gemini

Need help with an absent boss? Check out our February 28, 2024 post Navigating an Absent Boss: Tips for Maintaining Productivity and Morale