How to Help your Employees Through the Holiday Season

How to Help your Employees Through the Holiday Season

The holidays can be a difficult time of year for employers to navigate. Some businesses experience a huge holiday rush while others are hitting a lull as the year comes to a close. Whatever the holidays look like for your business, this time of year can sometimes be a source of more stress than joy.

There are also the personal demands of the season to consider. Your employees likely have travel plans, family events, community or religious commitments, and other obligations filling their calendars and demanding their energy and attention. This might mean that they have less to give in the workplace than usual.

The most important thing to keep in mind as you head into the holiday season is that you have the power to reduce employee stress instead of adding to it. Take inspiration from the following ideas and implement what works best for your organization.

Support good work/life balance. It’s likely that your team’s “life” will take up a bit more time than usual in the coming weeks, so consider ways you can balance work accordingly. A good place to start is by talking to your employees about what they would most like to see this holiday season. Perhaps it’s a hybrid schedule that requires fewer days in the office for the next month, or maybe it’s holding your holiday party during the workday to avoid creating another obligation after-hours. Let your team take the lead as much as possible. 

Express appreciation. While this is always good advice, there is no better time of year to let your employees know how much you appreciate their efforts. Everyone likes positive feedback, but moving beyond generic praise is one big way to show your employees that you’re paying attention and that you care. Be specific when letting your team know what impressed you.

Set priorities, then communicate them. What does your company truly need to accomplish by the end of year? What things would be nice, but aren’t essential? It will help cut down stress at every level if priorities are clearly defined and communicated to all employees. This will ensure that everyone’s efforts are going to where they are most needed. 

Cut down on to-do lists. Personal to-do lists are longer than ever at this time of year, so try not to add to them with unnecessary work responsibilities. Are there tasks or projects that could be delayed without negative consequences? Consider taking things off your employees’ to-do lists rather than adding to them for the next few weeks. 

Prioritize mental health. Unfortunately, the holidays aren’t a happy time for everyone. Anxiety, depression, and addiction challenges all spike during the holiday season, even for those who love this time of year. Make sure your employees have the mental health resources they need, including teletherapy and lifestyle coaching, by scheduling a demo today at www.impactsuite.com.