One in four employees (24%) report feeling more stressed during the Christmas period compared to the rest of the year.

The festive season is a time of joy and celebration. For many employees, it can also be a period of increased stress. From looming deadlines to managing personal obligations and end-of-year responsibilities, Christmas time can overwhelm even the most organised individuals. 

Here’s HR’s Christmas Survival Guide for managing stress in the workplace, ensuring that your team stays productive, happy and healthy throughout the festive season.

1. Recognise the Signs of Stress

Look out for signs of stress in your employees such as decreased productivity, absenteeism or irritability. Early intervention helps prevent burnout and lack of productivity that can be impactful on operations.

2. Encourage Open Communication

Promote an open dialogue about workload and personal challenges with employees. Encourage your employees to speak up about their individual needs during the festive season and create a supportive atmosphere so they’re happy to be open and honest.

3. Promote Creating A Work-Life Balance

Encourage employees to use annual leave, set boundaries and plan ahead for plan tasks. A work-life balance can be achieved through flexible working hours enabling employees to manage Christmas commitments around their work deadlines.

Readers Also Liked: ‘Importance Of Flexible Working For Employee Work-Life Balance’

4. Celebrate Employee Achievements

As the year comes to an end, it’s the perfect time to recognise hard work with festive rewards or thank-you notes. Boost employee morale by celebrating small wins and showing your appreciation for employees’ efforts.

5. Offer Mental Health Support

The festive season isn’t guaranteed to be full of happiness for everyone, so let employees know support is still available for mental health challenges that they might be facing during the festive season.

6. Manage Employee Workloads

Ensure that employee workloads are realistic, take into consideration that employees may have planned time off which means fewer tasks can be completed in that timeframe. Take the time to help employees prioritise their tasks and delegate where possible to reduce pressure making employees feel like they have to work unpaid overtime to catch up. 

7. Host Inclusive Festive Events

Use Christmas as an excuse to plan fun, festive events that are inclusive of all employees. Be mindful of offering alternatives for employees who don’t celebrate Christmas and ensure everyone feels part of the team.

Related Article: ‘Decking the Halls with Diversity: Fostering Inclusivity in Your Workplace Celebrations’

Managing stress over the Christmas period is all about clear communication, flexibility, and offering support. By helping employees navigate the festive season, HR professionals and team leaders can create a healthier, more productive workplace ready for a productive new year.

If you feel your business needs HR support get in contact by emailing paul@coppicehr.com or calling 07814 008478.