EA holiday cover and long-term sickness support for founders and SME leaders

1 Jul

There’s a particular kind of sinking feeling that sets in when your executive assistant books two weeks off or when an unexpected illness means they’re off indefinitely.

You know the feeling. Your inbox starts to get longer. Unbooked Appointments stack up. The things that usually just happen suddenly need someone to make them happen. And that someone, by default, becomes you.

But that’s where we come in. We can and love to help with this kind of thing!

What is EA holiday cover?

EA holiday cover is exactly what it sounds like: experienced executive assistant support that steps in while your regular EA or PA is away, so your business continues to operate at the standard you’ve built.

This isn’t about finding someone who can answer emails and call it done. It’s about bringing in a professional who can hold the operational thread managing your calendar, filtering your inbox, liaising with clients, coordinating with your team, and keeping everything moving without you having to brief them on every tiny detail.

At Izz Whizz VA, we’ve built a small, personally vetted team of experienced virtual EAs who are ready to step in. They’re not new to this world. They understand the pace, the nuance, and the importance of discretion and confidentiality.

What about long-term sickness cover?

Unplanned absence due to illness is a different kind of challenge and often a harder one to navigate.

When a key person in your business is signed off for weeks or months, the pressure to absorb their workload doesn’t disappear. It falls on you, on other team members, or simply goes undone. None of those options are good for anyone.

Long-term sickness cover from Izz Whizz VA gives you a capable, senior-level professional who can provide continuity of support for as long as you need it. We work with founders, consultants, and SME leaders who need a right-hand person not a stopgap during what can be a genuinely difficult period.

We handle the operational side so you can focus on leading, without the added burden of recruitment, onboarding, or uncertainty about when your team member will return.

What does cover support look like in practice?

Every business is different, so we tailor cover support around your specific needs. Typically, this includes:
• Inbox and calendar management: keeping on top of what matters and filtering what doesn’t
• Client liaison and communication: maintaining professional relationships without a break in service
• Diary coordination and scheduling: ensuring nothing falls through the cracks
• Meeting minute-taking and action tracking: board meetings, team check-ins, client calls
• Document preparation and admin: keeping the day-to-day ticking over
• Event and travel coordination: if time-sensitive plans are already in motion

If you have specific requirements beyond this list, we’ll tell you honestly whether we can help and more often than not, we can. If not, it is more than likely we will have contacts to whom we can refer you quickly and easily.

Why Izz Whizz VA?

What sets us apart is our commitment to quality and our approach to the working relationship. Both with our clients and internally with each other. Good works from a team that feels supported to do their best work and this is at the heart of our mission and values in everything that we do.

We are a curated micro-agency. Every VA in our team has been personally vetted by Isabelle and shares the same values: professionalism, ownership, warmth, reliability, and a genuine investment in the businesses they support.

We match you with someone who has the right experience for your sector and working style and we meet online for a brief and handover before they start, so the transition feels seamless rather than disruptive.

We hold ourselves to high standards and to embed into your team as seamlessly as possible.

How quickly can cover begin?

We understand that the need for cover doesn’t always come with notice. Whether your EA has just confirmed their holiday dates or you’ve received an unexpected sick note this week, please get in touch as soon as possible.

We’ll arrange a short discovery call to understand your immediate priorities, agree a start date, and ensure a smooth, confidential handover.

Frequently asked questions

Can you cover for just a week or two?

Yes. We work on a flexible, no-tie-in basis. You pay for the hours you use and we scale up or down based on what you need.

Will the cover VA know enough about my business to actually help?

We take onboarding seriously. Before cover begins, we gather the context needed to hit the ground running; your preferences on how you work and how to communicate with you, your priorities, your key contacts, and how you like things done.

What if my EA’s absence extends beyond the original timeframe?

We’re flexible. If a two-week holiday turns into a longer recovery period, or a sick note gets extended, we can adapt the arrangement accordingly. No drama, no complicated contracts.

Is this confidential?

Absolutely. All team members operate under our standard terms, which include data processing agreements and a commitment to complete confidentiality and security. We are ICO registered and fully insured for professional indemnity, cyber and public liability (where applicable).

You shouldn’t have to hold everything together on your own.

Running a business is demanding enough without becoming the person who absorbs every gap.

If your EA is going on holiday, or if you’re dealing with an unexpected absence and need experienced cover quickly, we’d love to help.
Arrange a discovery call today

Izz Whizz VA is a UK-based virtual EA and operations micro-agency, founded by Isabelle Pearcey. We provide executive assistance, business operations support, and interim cover to values-driven founders and SME leaders. Find out more at izzwhizzva.co.uk