As the summer season heats up, time-off requests surge — and with them, the risks of workplace disruptions. According to new insights from Paycom Software, Inc. (NYSE: PAYC), nearly 25% of U.S. employees delay submitting vacation requests until the day of their trip or even after returning. This delay, compounded by unclear policies and manual processes, creates significant challenges in workforce planning, payroll accuracy, and employee experience.
1. The Problem: Last-Minute Time-Off Requests
Data from Paycom’s Time-Off Requests tool reveals:
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1 in 4 employees delay their vacation requests until the last minute or later
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Many organizations lack clarity and consistency in their time-off policies
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Over one-third of employees are unclear about their company’s time-off rules
This behavior causes cascading operational issues:
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Staffing shortages during peak vacation periods
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Payroll errors due to undocumented time-off
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Inaccurate accruals and compliance risks
2. Business Impact: Summer Surge in Time-Off
The summer period sees a dramatic rise in vacation requests:
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40% more time-off requests are expected during summer months
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July 5 alone shows a 326% spike over the average day
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Unmanaged time-off leads to productivity dips and poor planning
Organizations without a structured time-off system risk:
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Reactive staffing decisions
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Inconsistent approvals
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Lower employee morale and engagement
3. Recommendations from Paycom for Employers
To address the summer surge and improve operations, Paycom advises companies to:
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Set and regularly audit their time-off policies
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Implement deadlines for high-demand vacation days (average is 34 days ahead)
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Empower managers to reinforce expectations with their teams
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Adopt automated time-off tools to ensure consistency and reduce admin overhead
4. The Solution: Paycom’s Time-Off Requests Featuring GONE®
Paycom’s GONE® tool transforms leave management with automation and mobile access:
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Instant decisioning based on pre-set time-off criteria
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Automatic updates to scheduling, payroll, and accruals
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Mobile submission capability enhances employee convenience
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Policy transparency improves compliance and trust
Quote from Tiffany McGowen, EVP of HR and Talent Acquisition at Paycom:
“Organizations need accessible, efficient and consistent time-off systems that prioritize business continuity and employee experiences.”
5. Methodology Behind the Insights
These findings are drawn from:
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Employees across Paycom clients using the Time-Off Requests tool
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Includes both paid and unpaid requests exceeding six hours
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Excludes leaves like sick days, jury duty, and holidays
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Data from 2023 and 2024 U.S.-based full- or part-time employees
As summer vacation requests spike, businesses must evolve beyond manual or inconsistent time-off practices. With tools like Paycom’s GONE®, companies can ensure better staffing, payroll accuracy, and employee satisfaction — even during the busiest vacation seasons.
Discover how Paycom’s GONE® tool is giving companies the HRTech Edge by automating time-off management and improving workforce reliability.
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