Preventing employee burnout during the festive season
Research shows that half of UK workers find December to be one of the most stressful months of the year due to deadlines and busy social calendars.
The return after the festive season can also affect wellbeing, with the ‘January blues’ playing a large part in people feeling low and finding it hard to catch-up after time off.
It’s important, as an employer/line manager, that you provide support for your employees, especially at this time of year, in order to prevent burnout. Leading by example in taking time off and setting boundaries is crucial to fostering a healthy workplace culture.
Additional ways you can support your employees include:
Encourage time off - gently remind employees to use up their annual leave in order to recharge and fully disconnect from work emails and calls.
Offer flexible working hours - at such a busy time of year, providing flexible working hours can be incredibly helpful in order to let employees manage family life, Christmas shopping or work around childcare
Manage workloads - avoid launching any new or non-essential projects at the end of the year. Help staff prioritise tasks and communicate clearly about what can wait until the new year.
Provide mental health resources - make sure employees are aware of mental health resources available to them, such as an Employee Assistance Program (EAP) or counseling services.
Recognise hard work - acknowledging hard work and dedication from your employees with a small note of thanks or reward can really boost morale
Offer financial resources - the festive season is an expensive time of year, so employee benefit or reward schemes can really be a big help with things like Christmas or grocery shopping.
Supporting your employees through the pressure of December and the transition into the new year is essential if you want to maintain morale, productivity and overall employee wellbeing.
If you’re looking for expert HR support, policy updates, or guidance on improving employee wellbeing, contact us today.