Weekly blog – it’s the most, stressful(?) time of the year

Protecting mental health during the festive chaos

Ever organised, I have prepped this blog ahead of being on annual leave today and Tuesday. On Monday, (today) me and my mum are going to Manchester for the day, Christmas shopping with lunch and cocktails, hopefully mostly for the latter! And then Tuesday, I’m going to Uttoxeter races Christmas jumper day, wish me luck, and send any tips my way please!! So a very festive couple of days for me.

There isn’t much else for me to write about really, as you will have seen from Emma’s blog last week – (or if not, why not?! Take a look here)), we had an evening making Christmas wreaths, Emma’s was absolutely massive, much to my amusement, but it was stunning I must say! Our tree is up now (keep an eye out for a best dressed Christmas tree vote coming soon on LinkedIn for the team), and I have made a start on wrapping and the presents are all almost sorted. I do love this time of year, the lights make the dark mornings and nights more bearable, as does the baileys (obviously only on the dark nights for the baileys, I haven’t quite been pushed to have that in my morning brew just yet)!

Having a couple of days off is very much needed in between the chaos of Christmas present buying, wrapping, kid’s productions and Christmas jumper days etc etc. I’m sure a lot of you feel the same, and so do your employees, which leads me nicely on to the topic of the blog today…

What can you as an employer do to ensure “all is calm” with your employees, and how can you support them to “jingle all the way” into the new year without them feeling burnt out. Each employee will have unique concerns of their own, from financial worries, to imposing tight deadlines, and a little support and attention from HR can make a bigger difference than you think.

1.????? Give the gift of time

Ensure your employees are having some rest. Whether that’s by reminding them to take any remaining annual leave they may have or by promoting flexible working arrangements, and ensuring they take their breaks. Two really important points here: First and foremost, a well-rested team will be a productive (and cheerful) team! And second, remember that if workers are prevented from taking their annual leave then they may be able to carry that unused leave over to the next holiday year. Always best to give gentle reminders for them to take their leave.

2.????? However, set boundaries for “elf and safety”

Whilst working flexibly can be great, the temptation to carry on answering emails late at night or squeezing one more task in can creep up on anyone. Encourage your employees to switch off. Share a friendly reminder that employees should ask for support when they start to feel things “snowball”. Help could be offered by reviewing workloads early to ensure that anything which needs to be done before the Christmas break can be done, after all, no one wants to be the person “wrapping up” work and gifts at 11pm on Christmas Eve!

3.????? Signpost help

As Buddy says, “the best way to spread Christmas cheer is …”, no not singing loud for all to hear, but is to listen and show you care!

Be mindful of any employee who is showing signs of struggling and send out a reminder about any Employee Assistance Programmes you have, or free resources that can be accessed for mental health (such as Mind) or financial support (such as MoneyHelper). This will help ensure that employees know where to turn to if they need support.

4.????? A sprinkle of humour in the working day never hurts

Find appropriate ways to lighten the mood! You could do a weekly Christmas quiz or have a festive social (and it doesn’t always have to be something big, you could hold a Christmas bake off, a charity day, or a low budget secret Santa), or a Christmas jumper or tree competition, all of which could be tailored for remote workers too. I even saw the idea of employees sharing photos of their pets in Christmas gear, and who wouldn’t want to see a dog in a Christmas hat?! Laughter can be a great stress reliever and help employees feel more part of the team and help with their bonding with colleagues.

5.????? Celebrate the achievements of the year

Reflect on the accomplishments of the year and thank employees for their hard work. Recognising hard work can boost morale and strengthen team bonds. You might even want to throw your own puns in there - ?“You sleigh at work!”, or “You’re tree-mendous”.. no?

?Helping employees maintain their mental health is more than just mince pies and mulled wine, it’s about creating an environment where everyone feels supported, valued and included. Small and low-cost practical steps can go a massive way.

And don’t forget about yourself as well. It’s all well and good helping and supporting your employees, but it will be a busy time of year for HR too so make sure you prioritise your own mental health. I have often heard this referred to as fitting your own oxygen mask first, because if you’re not in a good place, you won’t be able to help others.