What happens to the vacation days of an employee who was fully sick-listed during their holiday?

They get those days back and can take them later. A quick call to check in and remind them of this goes a long way.

When should I start this autumn's performance reviews?

Right after the summer break works well. Teams tend to respond better to a calm start and a good conversation before the pace picks up. Huma's performance review template can help you prepare.

How do I plan HR tasks for the rest of autumn?

Start with your calendar. Add the recurring autumn tasks and see what you can prepare now. An HR year wheel gives you the full overview, and Huma has a free template to get you started.

A few things worth doing after summer break

Summer holidays are lovely. Almost too lovely. It's easy to slip into holiday mode and stay there. Three weeks of sun, travel, swimming, and lazy days will do that to anyone. So here's a gentle reminder. A few things worth doing once you're back. Not the biggest tasks. Just the small ones that get lost in the shuffle.

Mathias Linnerud

: Aug 21, 2026, 3:38:17 PM | : 21. August 2026

Summary

Check the holiday list: has everyone actually taken their time off, or does someone need extra days agreed in writing, or a later date booked in?
Did anyone go on sick leave during the holidays? Reach out, ask how they're doing, and remind them those days come back to them later.
Take the pulse of your team now that they're back. A gentle first few days goes a long way, and it's a good moment to book this autumn's one-to-ones.
Tie up the loose practical ends from before the break, so they don't linger longer than they need to.
Get ahead on autumn planning: check your calendar, block in the recurring tasks, and grab an HR year-wheel template if that helps.

It's easy to come back from holiday with a bit of brain fog. You simply forget what you're doing and what's next. A small reminder or checklist can help. Especially with the things you don't think about day to day. But not only those. Even the more obvious things are nice to be reminded of after a long, lazy summer. Here are five things we want to remind you to do.

Five things to do after summer break…

…and fast!

1. Check that everyone actually took their holiday

Sometimes it just doesn't work to take time off at the same time as the rest of the team. If that's true for any of your people, you'll want to know. Check the holiday list and see who's actually taken their time off. If someone hasn't yet, ask if they've planned it later — or remind them they need to.

Under Norwegian holiday law, employees can carry over up to 12 unused days to the next year. But you and the employee need a written agreement, unless your staff handbook already covers it.

One more thing: if someone was fully signed off sick during their holiday, they're entitled to take those lost days later. Which brings us to the next point…

2. Follow up with employees who were sick during their holiday

There's rarely a worse time to be off sick than summer. As a manager, you probably can't fix that. But you can make the time after a bit nicer.

Give the employee a call. Check how they're doing. See if there's anything you can do to make things a little easier. And don't forget: any holiday days they'd already used during that sick leave don't count. They get those days back later.

3. Check in on your team

Maybe you've got the best team in the world. Maybe they'd do anything for their job. But they still feel the holiday should've been a week longer. You can do something about that. Check in on how they're doing. Maybe take them out for something nice. And if it works, try giving them a calm start those first few days back.

This is also a golden opportunity to invite people to this autumn's one-on-ones. And here, you can download a template covering every step of the conversation.

4. Tie up the loose ends

Finish that boring task you didn't get to before the holiday. It's not the dream start after what might've been the summer of your life, but it's better than letting it hang over your shoulders.

5. Refresh your memory on autumn's to-dos

If you haven't started planning autumn yet, you're already behind. But it's fixable. Check your calendar, slot in the tasks you handle every autumn, and prepare for what you can.

If you need a hand planning, you can download a free HR year wheel template here.

Summer might be over…

…but that doesn't mean it's all over. Now you've got new challenges to look forward to, and good times with your colleagues. And best of all — less than a year until next summer holiday!

FAQ

How many vacation days can I carry over to next year?: You and your employee can agree to carry over up to 12 days. This needs a written agreement, unless your staff handbook already covers it. Check the holiday list now to see who might need one.
What happens to the vacation days of an employee who was fully sick-listed during their holiday?: They get those days back and can take them later. A quick call to check in and remind them of this goes a long way.
When should I start this autumn's performance reviews?: Right after the summer break works well. Teams tend to respond better to a calm start and a good conversation before the pace picks up. Huma's performance review template can help you prepare.
How do I plan HR tasks for the rest of autumn?: Start with your calendar. Add the recurring autumn tasks and see what you can prepare now. An HR year wheel gives you the full overview, and Huma has a free template to get you started.