NEW YORK (AP) — Vacations can be frustrating for a small business owner who's focused on getting the work done. Just when business is picking up, staffers are asking for time off. Even new ones.

In those moments, look at the upsides of vacations. They keep your staff refreshed and better able to produce. And being as liberal as you can with time off helps build staffer loyalty, something you'll need as the job market gets better and many people start looking for new work.

If you're hiring your first employee now, expect vacations to be part of the discussion you have before you close a deal. Even if you have long-time employees, you might want to revisit your vacation policy and see if it needs any changes, especially since the Memorial Day weekend will bring with it the start of summer vacations.