As the year draws to a close, many workers juggle various tasks and responsibilities, such as planning their holiday parties and budgeting for next year. According to a survey, over half of the respondents said the holiday season could be very stressful.
Employee burnout is common at various times throughout the year but is strong during the holidays. The additional expectations of the holidays blur the lines between work and personal lives, and your employees feel the pinch. To help ease the pressure on your employees, here are a few ways that you can do to combat holiday burnout.
Goal Setting
Unfortunately, many employees need to set goals during the holiday season. This can be because they don’t have a clear vision of what they want to achieve. Having a plan ahead of time can help keep the focus on the goals, not the following year.
Time Off
In some companies, it’s a “use it or lose it” proposition regarding using their vacation time. According to studies, only 23% of workers take all their paid time off each year, meaning they forfeit about half of their accumulated leave. If you have a staff member who doesn’t take all their vacation days, you should encourage them to do so during the holidays.
Sorting Tasks
Before the year ends, look at your list and identify tasks that need to be completed. Also, take on any unfinished projects and debts. Doing so will help keep the stress levels down and ensure you can focus on the following year.
Communicate
As you reflect on the year and the goals and accomplishments, it’s easy to get carried away by the details. However, don’t let this distract you from reaching out to your employees. Instead, keep in touch by sending them updates about the company.
Reward Staff
Although the year-end bonus is a tradition in company culture, it’s also essential to recognize the efforts of your employees by giving them non-monetary rewards. These can be small monetary awards or customized gifts that show their appreciation. While these don’t have to be extravagant, they should be sincere in their intent.