Because many employees save their vacation time for this holiday period, some organizations may feel pressured to provide the same high levels of support and satisfaction that their customers usually enjoy.  This void of operational talent can carry forward into the new year when inclement weather or outbreaks of colds and flu create the same issues.  With that said, how well is your organization prepared to handle the temporary loss of key individuals?

The best solution is to cross train employees within departments so that critical functions can continue without missing a beat.  If you don't know who can handle what duties, get started on compiling that information. 

Next, look at how you can keep your business running if employees can't get to work due to weather.  If you are a national organization, your snow storm doesn't matter to Florida customers.  Can employees dial in from home using their own computers?  If they don't have cable internet or DSL access, can your systems flow information over telephone connections?  What protocols do you have in place to stay in business?

Holidays are meant to be festive and enjoyable for your employees.  However, they also provide you with a great opportunity to assess your operational voids when the unexpected happens.