Happy? Holidays
How to Help Employees Get Through Some of the Not-so-Merry Feels
Let’s be clear, I’m no Grinch. You’ll find a decorated tree in our living room and “Christmas with Elvis” playing the weekend after Thanksgiving.
But whether you LIKE the holidays or not, this time of year can be tough.
Employees are under a lot of stress around the holidays. From worrying about having enough time or money for presents, preparing to host a holiday meal or trying to create the “perfect” experience for our kids — there can be a lot of emotion overwhelming the joy of the holidays.
Being sensitive to this fact is an important part of creating a great culture for your team.
You may have employees experiencing their first holiday without a loved one or who struggle with the anxiety of being around the dinner table with extended family. And while these may seem like personal problems you can’t do much about there are ways business leaders can help relieve some of the bah-humbug.
Six Tips to Help Employees Beat the Holiday Blues:
- Bring in a healthy snack.
There are a lot of sweets and treats floating around during the holidays. For employees trying to make healthier food choices, this can be stressful. Consider bringing in a bag of oranges or apples or some mixed nuts so employees have an alternative they can feel good about. Bonus Benefit: Researchers studying depression have found that certain citrus fragrances boost feelings of well-being.
2. Consider letting employees out an hour early or flexing schedules.
If this is a slower time of year for you, consider allowing your employees to flex their schedules a bit. Even just one extra hour to get some shopping or cleaning done can go a long way for employees trying to crunch in their to-do’s.
3. Start a gratitude or holiday traditions board.
Being mindful of what we have can crowd out some of the worry. Create a space where employees can share something they are grateful for this season. Alternatively, you could have employees share their favorite holiday traditions — just something to help shift the mindset to what really matters during the holidays.
4. Move the holiday party to AFTER the holidays.
Extra time is hard to come by during the holidays. Having a “Winterfest” party in January or February is a great way give back a little time to your employees. Bonus Benefit: Not only does a later date free up schedules, you may be able to get a better rate on booking a venue or activity if it’s not during a premium time.
5. Spread some laughter.
Laughter is a huge reducer of stress. Start a holiday caption contest, post some funny holiday memes or do something fun as a group to make light of the craziness a lot of us put ourselves through.
6. Remind employees of their resources.
If you offer one, now is an excellent time to remind employees of their Employee Assistance Program (EAP) benefit. Talking to a professional counselor can bring a lot of relief to employees going through a particularly tough time.
Don’t have EAP, not to worry — most communities have free resources for dealing with stress. Consider looking up a few and sharing them with your employees. Unsure where to start? Try 211.org or your local Health & Human Services agency — they often have free posters they’re happy to share!
And while you’re doing all of this to help your employees — don’t forget to help yourself!
If you’re feeling overwhelmed or stressed give yourself a break. Take a walk, call an old friend or do something nice for yourself so you don’t end up feeling like a Scrooge.
Get more tips on #companyculture and how to make work better by checking out our site and following the Fabric blog.
