With the festive season upon us, we move into a space that’s filled with joy, celebrations, and moments of connection.
Yet, for leaders, navigating the complexities of maintaining a healthy work environment whilst embracing the festivities, can introduce some unique challenges in relation to employee wellbeing.
Understanding the Seasonal Strain
As workplaces embrace the festive spirit, leaders must recognise the added pressure this period can place on their teams.
Balancing personal commitments, year-end targets, the expectation to deliver whilst also starting to wind down and the significant financial demands that festivities can place on employees… It’s a recipe for substantial pressure and stress.
Time and again, we’ve seen these circumstances have a negative impact on both mental and emotional health.
There is also often a great focus on ‘Christmas parties’, client celebrations and an underlying assumption that the festive season is a happy one for everyone.
However, the reality is that for some, this time of year can be an unpleasant trigger – or a time of great challenge. Not to mention the different religious traditions who don’t celebrate Christmas at all and often feel ignored and excluded.
To address the myriad of challenges that this time of year can bring, here are some strategies to support your employees & their wellbeing during this season.
Strategies to Support Employee Wellbeing
Offer Flexible Schedules: Offer flexibility in work hours or remote options to accommodate personal commitments. This flexibility empowers employees to manage their time effectively, reducing stress and enhancing work-life balance. Put simply, it takes some of the pressure off.
Cultivate a Supportive Culture: Encourage open dialogue about holiday-related stresses. Highlight these in internal communications and create forums for employees to share any concerns and receive support. As Leaders, consider organising team-building activities or wellbeing workshops to strengthen connections and resilience.
Encourage Self-Care Practices: Advocate for self-care by providing resources and guidance. Offer tips on stress management, mindfulness, and maintaining healthy boundaries during this busy period. Promote ‘wellness breaks’ and downtime, such as time away from desks or taking a walk. Small gestures like wellness webinars, the creation of relaxation ‘spaces’ or gifting self-care packages can also make a meaningful difference.
Outsource To A HR Consultant: Rather than allow the burden of wellbeing processes to overwhelm you or your leadership teams, consider outsourcing to a HR Consultant who can not only make recommendations that will support your people, but also do the heavy lifting for you. Our HR Support Package could be just the strategy you need. Find out more about it here.
It’s important to remember that just because your employees don’t vocalise their challenges, doesn’t mean they don’t have them.
We understand that some of the suggestions listed above may not be immediately possible, so here’s some immediate steps that you as a leader can take to support your people.
Immediate Steps for Leaders
- Clear, Concise Communication: Use transparent communication regarding work expectations. Ensure employees understand deadlines and have support available through the festive season, reducing uncertainty and stress
- Lead by Example: Demonstrate a healthy work-life balance by taking time off or setting realistic boundaries. Your actions will influence your team’s behaviour, encouraging them to also prioritise wellbeing.
- Appreciate: Acknowledge employees’ efforts and commitment during this challenging time, to create a sense of value and motivation. Express gratitude through personalised messages or small tokens of appreciation.
- Outsource: Take the weight of HR off your shoulders, by outsourcing your HR requirements to a HR Consultant. They’ll ensure your people are well looked after, so you can focus on strategy and business growth. Find out more here
Throughout the festive season, leaders have an opportunity to reinforce a culture that prioritises employee wellbeing.
By implementing strategies and taking proactive steps, organisations can create a supportive environment that nurtures both productivity and happiness.
The true essence of this season lies in creating a sense of belonging and care within our communities. By safeguarding employee wellbeing, we not only support productivity and results, but also foster a culture of empathy, positivity and commitment among teams.
You don’t have to do it alone
Our HR diagnostic is designed to support you in identifying simple changes that you could make from both a HR processes and strategies perspective, as well as a wider business and leadership perspective. At HR360, we support you and free up your time, so you can focus on strategic business growth.
Find out more about the HR Diagnostic and book yours here
Want to know more about caring for your employee’s wellbeing?
We did a recent webinar discussing exactly that.