We only have to briefly look around us to see that mobile technology permeates every aspect of our lives. From mundane things like online banking, to complex tasks such as learning new languages, things that used to be stationary are now able to travel with us.
Employers should take the opportunity to follow suit, with leave processing as a great starting point. Organizations took a step in the right direction when they implemented on-premise software for handling time off requests; however, new advances are rendering this obsolete in favor of something mobile and – more importantly – intuitive.
Of course, like with any technological shift, there will be some resistance. Despite the abundance of benefits, some companies will see mobile leave applications as a hindrance. To better understand why this might be the case, it’s important to look at why some organizations dislike the idea of this technology. Then, effectively clarify why these “cons” are harmful and subjective.
Let’s start with taking a look at why some organizations may mistakenly see them as harmful.
1. Excessive Leave
Many managers mistakenly assume that vacations are detrimental to the company’s productivity, but this couldn’t be more wrong. Research has shown that employees who are afraid to use their vacation time are detrimental to productivity. In fact, a survey of worker productivity and vacation published in the Harvard Business Review, found that corporate leaders in countries with more paid leave days were more likely to work at a faster pace with a higher quality focus. Improved creativity and better mental health of employees are also some of the attributes of taking regular time off.
If anything, embracing mobile leave apps could be a convenient way for staff to help promote productivity and maintain workplace morale.
2. Personal Interaction
While some employers may have a more restrictive attitude, others might value a more personal approach to doing business. There’s absolutely nothing wrong with wanting to maintain a direct connection between management and employees. This is why supervisors could prefer helping their staff face to face.
This might be feasible in a smaller organization, but such good intentions will come at the expense of their bottom line.
Alternately, this could also be an issue of control. Some managers keep certain functions close because they either don’t trust external systems or have a desire to micromanage their people. Regardless, it’s a terrible attitude to have, and nobody benefits.
Advantages of Mobile Leave Apps
For those companies who are sitting on the fence or dead against mobile leave apps, knowing what they are missing out on could just change their minds. Hopefully, the following benefits will effectively change some minds and help these businesses gain the edge they need.
1. Savings
Naturally, the goal of any business is to make as much money as possible. Companies of all sizes understand (to varying degrees) how overhead is affected by supply costs – specifically paper.
Mobile leave application means a reduction of paperwork, literally. Cloud storage allows easy information access anytime, anywhere.
Reducing paper usage is also a huge selling point in a world that’s becoming more environmentally conscious. Organizations who market themselves as “green” through their practices generate goodwill with the public and employees alike.
2. Increased Efficiency
Productivity is critical for performance. Every minute spent dealing with a leave request, is time that could otherwise be spent on more pressing concerns. While most managers are happy to be helpful, it is easy for them to be distracted by other more pressing tasks.
Mobile leave apps allow employees to manage their own leave applications. The system can automatically determine whether too many people will be off at the time of the requests. This effectively prevents short-staffing. In comparison, the lack of automation would mean more manual work for the supervisor, who will have to de-conflict the multiple requests.
3. Automatic Tracking
Companies need to keep records of employee activities, leave days being just one of them. Again, when left to be handled by supervisors, this becomes a daunting task. Since employees typically have a limited “bucket” of available days or hours, those responsible for approving time off have to make these calculations.
Conversely, an automated system will help to handle the math. Simultaneously, employees will also be able to see their available time off and plan their leave accordingly.
4. Accuracy
While nothing is foolproof, human error is a more common source of mistake than automated systems. Glitches occur, but companies don’t have to worry about a software program not working efficiently due to illness, personal problems, burnout or a “bad day”. Software is also much easier to fix than a person.
In other words, a precise, specialized system is highly unlikely to make processing errors. If anything, users may accidentally input the wrong dates or times for their leave requests. An intuitive, accessible app can make it easy for employees to correct mistakes.
Overall, the benefits of mobile leave apps are irrefutable. Preventing their implementation due to flawed logic or a poor company culture puts businesses at a competitive disadvantage. For those who are entrenched in their preference for on-premise or even paper options, changing these attitudes is a process that needs to come from within. But like any type of progress, it’s simply a matter of time and perseverance.
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