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Tips to Lessen Holiday Stress at Work

Forget “peace on Earth”—for good stress and bad, the holiday season is stressful! There are presents to wrap, decorations to hang, and family to host. And employees bring all of this stress to work, where there are year-end deadlines to meet and vacations to cover. When stress is coming from all angles, even simple, well-meaning activities like gift exchanges and cookie contests can feel like one more burden to bear—one more burden that can make employees more frazzled and less productive.

As an employer, you can’t control when your employees’ in-laws come to visit or how much their table settings must mimic Pinterest. But you can reduce their holiday stress at work! Here are a few ideas:

In most industries, the weeks before and after Christmas are incredibly slow. Consider letting employees have flexible schedules or work from home a few days during this time. Employees can still be productive and cover any fires, but they can also spend time with their families and get their last-minute shopping done.
Remind employees they are appreciated by giving every employee a gift, whether it’s cash, a gift card, or a certificate for a prepared holiday meal.
Schedule holiday events during business hours. Evening holiday parties can be awesome, but there is also pressure for employees to secure a babysitter and to prep their spouse for their coworkers’ crazy antics.
Give bonuses early to facilitate holiday shopping.
Provide a paid floating holiday or two so employees of all faiths and cultures can honor their traditions apart from Christmas and New Year’s Day.
Remind employees of your Employee Assistance Program (EAP). Just as the holidays amp up the happy things in life, they also shine a spotlight on the not-so-happy things. The EAP can help employees work through tough holiday times.

Employer compassion always goes a long way, but it will go extra far during the holidays. Your employees will appreciate the effort you put in to their well-being, and their reduced stress will make for happier holidays at home and at work!

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