Taking Time Off

Our Approach to Time Off

We believe in:

• Trust-based time off - We care about results, not hours logged
• Proactive planning - Coordinating absences to maintain team momentum
• Full disconnection - When you're off, you're truly off
• Leading by example - Everyone, including leadership, takes regular time off

Types of Time Off

Vacation Time

• Annual allocation: 24 days per year
• Minimum use: We expect everyone to use at least 15 days every year
• Carryover: Up to 5 days can be carried over to the next year

Sick Leave

• No fixed limit - Take what you need to recover
• Mental health counts - Mental health days are treated the same as physical health days

Public Holidays

• Since most of the team is in Turkey, we follow the Turkish Public Holidays. This may change in the future.

Parental Leave

If you have been a part of Hardal over a year, you'll get a 16 weeks of parental leave. If it's less than a year, you'll get whatever you local government offers.

How to Request Time Off

Currently, we don't use a specific HR tool. So, we use deel + slack.

1. Plan ahead - Depending on the length, request vacation time at least 1-2 weeks in advance
2. Use Deel - Submit requests through Deel
3. Notify your team - Post in your team's Slack channel
4. Update your calendar - Block the time and set an out-of-office message
5. Document handoffs - Note any critical responsibilities that need coverage

Before You Go

Handoff Checklist

• Document status of ongoing projects
• Identify potential issues that might arise
• Clarify who's covering your responsibilities
• Update relevant documentation
• Set expectations for when you'll return

Communication Template

📅 OUT OF OFFICE: [Dates]

I'll be away from [start date] until [end date].

For urgent matters regarding:
- [Project/Area]: Contact @[colleague name]
- [Project/Area]: Contact @[colleague name]

For non-urgent matters, I'll respond when I return on [date].

Best,

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[start date] ve [end date] arasında ofis dışında olacağım.

Acil konular için:
- [Project/Area]: Contact @[colleague name]
- [Project/Area]: Contact @[colleague name]

Acil olmayan konular için [date] tarihinden sonra geri dönüş sağlayacağım.

Sevgiler

When You Return

Take time to:

1. Catch up on messages and updates at your own pace
2. Schedule a brief check-in with your team
3. Adjust priorities based on what happened while you were away
4. Share any insights or perspectives gained during your time off

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Remember: Taking time to rest isn't just permitted — it's expected. Your well-being directly impacts the quality of our work and the health of Hardal.