A survival guide for businesses surviving the holiday season
For many of us, Christmas marks the beginning of a period of rest and relaxation, the beginning of time to relax and spend time with loved ones. However, this doesn’t apply to everyone. For many professions, especially those in retail, hospitality, healthcare and emergency services, Christmas is one of the busiest times of the year. As a result, these employees will need additional support during that time to keep morale high and productivity from declining. In this article, we’ll look at the different ways you can support staff who have to spend Christmas at work.
5 tips to improve your Christmas experience at work
1. Recognize hard work
Employees working over the Christmas period are forced to sacrifice valuable time that could have been spent resting or spending quality time with their families. Leaders and employers need to recognize this hard work to ensure a positive work environment. You can reward your employees for their dedication in a variety of ways, but the most common are financial incentives such as bonuses and overtime pay. However, non-monetary rewards may also be appreciated. These include small gifts, coupons, and words of appreciation, private or public.
2. Create a festive atmosphere
Spending Christmas at work doesn’t automatically stop you from feeling the Christmas spirit. Take the opportunity to decorate the hall to make the surroundings of your employees more colorful and fun. You can also foster a sense of community by hanging lights and decorations, or by having your employees decorate the Christmas tree together. If possible, allow your employees to wear festive attire, such as Christmas jumpers and accessories. These small actions can have a huge impact on employee morale and make this tough time pass more easily.
3. Be as flexible as possible
Although it may sound difficult, it is necessary to offer your employees some flexibility over the Christmas period. Even if employees have to work during the holidays, they need time to buy Christmas presents, attend their children’s school performances, and prepare a festive dinner. Try to adjust schedules so that employees can enjoy time off while fulfilling their work responsibilities by rotating shifts or allowing them to work from home. You can also offer additional time off for employees to use after the vacation rush ends.
4. Supports mental and physical health
The holiday season can be tough, especially when you can’t take time off from work. Employees will be under stress during this period, so it’s important to prioritize their mental as well as physical health. This can be achieved by encouraging employees to take frequent breaks during long shifts so they can relax and grab a snack. When it comes to snacks, make sure to also offer some healthy options so your employees don’t overindulge in sugary desserts. Most importantly, be honest about the amount of work you expect to do, which will make everyone feel more prepared and reduce the risk of burnout.
5. Promote team bonding
The challenges of working during the Christmas season become more bearable when there is a strong sense of community within an organization. As the saying goes, if you share a problem, it’s a problem halved. To foster and enhance this spirit of camaraderie, consider organizing team-bonding activities like Secret Santa or Christmas-themed contests. You can also set company-wide goals related to sales and profits that your employees can work toward and celebrate together. Holiday gatherings are also very popular among companies, allowing employees to socialize with co-workers outside of work.
Tips for employees working during the Christmas period
So far, we’ve talked about what leaders can do to support their employees while they’re on vacation. But what can employees do to help them survive the busiest time of the year? Let’s take a look at some basic tips to help employees successfully navigate Christmas at work.
communicate your needs
In some cases, workloads can become overwhelming during the holiday season and employee needs can take a backseat. It’s important to prevent this from happening and to communicate your boundaries as clearly as possible. If you need specific time off or need additional support with a specific task, talk to your manager as soon as possible so a solution can be found. With patience and a positive attitude, all problems can be solved and you will get through the holiday season more easily.
practice self-care
Companies talk about protecting your mental health, but if you don’t take action yourself, the risk of burnout is real. Prioritize healthy habits at and outside of work, focusing on eating healthy, getting enough sleep, and finding time to relax, even if it’s just for a few minutes. Instead of worrying about your job or your Christmas shopping list, use the break from work to relax. This will help you get back to the festival with a clear head and work responsibilities.
Change festival schedule
What happens if I can’t celebrate on the day? There’s no rule against celebrating Christmas on another day if your schedule allows. What’s important is spending quality time with your loved ones, not what’s written on the calendar on your wall. Another way to get through this stressful time is to plan a post-holiday trip. Take a break in January or February and enjoy some time away from work after the Christmas crowd returns home.
conclusion
Christmas work can be especially tough, but if leaders and employees practice mutual understanding and appreciation, everything can go more smoothly and even become more enjoyable. Leaders should focus on paying attention to the needs of their employees and taking the necessary steps to accommodate them while maintaining productivity levels. Meanwhile, employees need to set their own boundaries, practice self-care, and maintain a positive and open attitude. By following these steps, you can make the festive period a positive experience despite the increased workload.
