Michael Held is CEO and founder of LifeSpeak Inc. (TSX: LSPK), a leading whole-person well-being solution for employers and health plans.
getty
The reality of every holiday season is often very different from its joy-filled reputation. Whether it's trying to throw the perfect holiday gathering, reconnecting with distant relatives who know how to push your buttons or scrambling to manage professional responsibilities before year-end, people can actually experience elevated stress levels. And for some, those feelings follow them back to the workplace in the new year.
Considering around 40% of Americans experience increased stress around the holidays—making it hard for them to enjoy the reason for the season—it’s easy to understand that a post-holiday funk may linger as employees return to work. This phenomenon is bad for both employee health and your bottom line. Stress inhibits the ability to focus, which reduces work quality and limits productivity. By one measure, more than 20% of workers spend five workday hours each week, at minimum, actively thinking about stressors. For an employee who makes $60,000, that’s a weekly cost of $1,500 for an organization, and that’s on top of any impact that extreme stress might have on overall satisfaction and retention.
This creates a conundrum for companies that want to reduce employee stress during and after the holidays while maintaining productivity. Dramatic cuts to workloads aren’t an option for most, since work still needs to get done, and employers can’t actively manage the pressures associated with family gatherings. But I've found that these four steps can make a big difference in helping employees manage stress and improve their overall satisfaction.
1. Build a culture of compassion and inclusion.
While we typically think about the holidays as a time for togetherness, they can also feel incredibly isolating. For employees who don’t get along with their family or have family to gather with, it can be difficult to listen to co-workers’ stories of festive celebrations. Similarly, those who celebrated a different holiday than the majority of their peers, or no holiday at all, may feel left out of workplace conversations.
Combat these challenges by building a culture that values inclusivity and empathy so employees don’t feel alone at work. That doesn’t mean banning all conversations about Christmas. Instead, look for ways to ensure internal communications acknowledge the diversity of holidays around this time. Further, encourage employees to be mindful of co-workers who may seem out of sorts. When people are considerate of each other and offer support when needed, they can make the workplace more welcoming for everyone.
2. Help employees push 'Reset.'
Sometimes, the best solution to stress is stepping away to take a break. But the reality is that nearly half of Americans hesitate to use all their paid time off, often out of concern about falling behind at work. There are other ways to give your employees a break, though.
If you don’t already offer flexible scheduling, consider introducing the option on a limited basis to help employees more easily balance work and home responsibilities. Additionally, if you have in-office employees who prefer not to take time off for travel, consider giving them the option to work from their destination, either full time or on a reduced schedule. Finally, incorporate breaks during the day, whether it's encouraging employees to get up regularly and move around or scheduling gatherings so co-workers can interact with each other for something other than work.
3. Support a healthy lifestyle.
Good physical health and a nutritious diet can play significant roles in reducing stress and strengthening mental health and resilience. But chances are employees' holidays heavily feature big meals, a lot of sweets and packed schedules. Considering many adults attempt to commit to health-related resolutions for the new year, employers can offer resources to help people understand the connections between their diet and their mental health. You can offer on-demand resources that allow employees to incorporate fitness breaks into the workday when convenient, and you can provide healthier food options at office gatherings.
4. Step up mental health support.
People with mental health conditions may find the holidays even more difficult, so they might not return to work feeling all that refreshed. Beyond ensuring that your employer-provided health benefits include coverage for therapy, counseling and other mental health services, consider offering free, on-demand support that's easy to access for employees and their dependents. On-demand resources are valuable for employees who might not be able to fit in-person mental health support into their busy schedule. Look for resources that address a broad range of mental health needs and provide everything from brief messages of support to more long-term treatments.
The stress of the holidays, as well as ending one year and starting another one, can linger for quite a while. By making just a few smart changes, you can help employees better manage that stress, making them happier, healthier and more productive.
Forbes Human Resources Council is an invitation-only organization for HR executives across all industries. Do I qualify?
