Meeting Planning
Don’t Forget Public Holidays When Scheduling Globally
Why holidays are the silent killer of international schedules, and how to plan around them.
· 4 min read
You can find the perfect overlapping hour and still schedule a meeting nobody attends — because it is a national holiday for half the room. Holidays are the most overlooked variable in global scheduling.
Holidays are wildly different
Public holidays vary by country, region, and even religion, and many move each year with lunar or local calendars. Assuming everyone shares your days off is a recipe for empty meetings.
Build a shared holiday view
- Maintain a shared calendar with each region’s public holidays.
- Check it before locking recurring meetings or deadlines.
- Watch for long holiday stretches when an entire region effectively pauses.
Plan around, not through
When a key region is out, move the deadline rather than expecting heroics. Respecting holidays signals that you value people over schedules — and they will return the favour.