What To Do When Seasonal Affective Disorder Hits Your Workplace

Does your office feel different when winter sets in? Beyond Halloween, the holiday decorations, and cosy sweaters, there's a subtle shift that affects roughly 1 in 15 UK workers: Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). In our hybrid working world, understanding and addressing SAD has never been more crucial, or complex.

What's Really Happening When Winter Hits?

Picture this: It's 8 AM, still dark outside, and your team member who usually brings energy to every morning meeting is quietly struggling to engage. While many of us brush off winter fatigue as normal, for some, it's far more serious.

Seasonal Affective Disorder isn't just "winter blues", it's a clinically recognised form of depression that can significantly impact both personal health and workplace performance.

The effects of SAD are seriously underestimated.

Even though it’s a recognised Mental Health condition, sufferers are regularly misunderstood. Often individuals exhibit symptoms that are not severe enough for diagnosis as a clinically recognised syndrome. This means there is no treatment or support, and the symptoms still negatively impact their life.

The science is clear: reduced sunlight exposure disrupts our body's natural rhythm, leading to:

• Decreased serotonin production (our "happiness hormone")
• Increased melatonin levels (making us sleepy when we need to be alert)
• Disrupted circadian rhythms (affecting our sleep-wake cycles)

The Hidden Cost of SAD in Numbers

• 44% of employees report the winter negatively affects their mental health
• 35% believe they have experienced SAD
• 30% see their productivity decline during the winter months
• 9 million workdays are lost annually in the UK due to SAD
• The average SAD sufferer takes 4 sick days per winter season

Spotting SAD: Beyond the Obvious Signs

Early Warning Signs for Employees:

• Finding it harder than usual to meet deadlines
• Feeling overwhelmed by tasks you normally handle well
• Craving carbs and sleeping more than usual
• Struggling to maintain your usual work relationships

Early Warning Signs for Managers to Notice:

• Reduced participation in virtual meetings
• Declining quality of work or missed deadlines
• Changes in communication patterns
• Increased irritability or withdrawal from team interactions

Modern Solutions for a Modern Workplace

For Employers

1. Adapt Your Workplace Strategy

• For Office-Based Teams: Optimise seating arrangements for maximum natural light exposure. Create bright, welcoming break spaces. Install full-spectrum lighting in darker areas
• For Remote/Hybrid Teams: Provide home office lighting assessments. Offer SAD lamp subsidies or wellness stipends. Implement increased flexible working hours during the winter months

2. Enhance Your Wellbeing Offerings

• Launch a "Winter Wellness Challenge" with achievable daily goals
• Organise virtual and in-person outdoor team activities
• Provide access to mental health support and resources
• Arrange awareness sessions about SAD with mental health professionals

3. Create a Supportive Culture

• Train managers to recognise SAD symptoms
• Implement regular wellbeing check-ins
• Normalise conversations about mental health
• Develop clear support pathways for affected employees

For Employees

1. Optimise Your Work Environment

• Position your desk near natural light
• Consider using a SAD lamp during work hours
• Take regular outdoor breaks, especially during daylight hours
• Maintain a consistent sleep schedule

2. Adopt Protective Habits

• Schedule outdoor activities during lunch breaks
• Practice light exercise during daylight hours
• Maintain social connections, even virtually
• Consider vitamin D supplementation (consult your healthcare provider)

3. Leverage Workplace Support

• Communicate with your manager about flexible working arrangements
• Utilise available mental health resources
• Join or create workplace wellness groups
• Don't hesitate to seek professional help if needed

Taking Action: Your Next Steps

For Employers:

1. Assess your current mental health support systems
2. Develop a winter wellness action plan
3. Train managers in SAD awareness
4. Review and update flexible working policies
5. Implement regular check-in systems

For Employees:

1. Create your personal winter wellness strategy
2. Optimise your workspace for maximum light exposure
3. Schedule regular outdoor activities
4. Connect with your HR department about available resources
5. Build a support network at work

Real-World Success: A Case Study in SAD Support

How TechABC Transformed Their Winter Workplace

Sarah, a senior developer at TechABC, had always been a top performer. However, her manager noticed a consistent pattern: every winter, her engagement dropped, deadlines slipped, and she became increasingly withdrawn from team interactions.

The Challenge

• Sarah's productivity dropped by approximately 40% during winter months
• She struggled to attend early morning meetings
• Team collaboration became difficult due to her reduced energy
• Work quality began to suffer, affecting project timelines

The Solution

TechABC's HR team worked with Sarah to implement reasonable adjustments:

1. Schedule Flexibility Adjusted her working hours to 10:30 AM - 6:30 PM. Implemented core hours of 11 AM - 4 PM for team meetings. Allowed for longer lunch breaks during daylight hours.
2. Workspace Modifications Relocated her desk next to a window. Provided a high-quality SAD lamp. Created a standing desk option to increase movement.
3. Workload Adjustments Redistributed morning-heavy tasks to afternoon slots. Implemented a project tracking system that allowed for flexible delivery times. Arranged pair programming sessions during her peak energy hours.
4. Additional Support Attended sessions with a mental health professional. Provided access to a mood-tracking app. Organised outdoor team activities during lunch breaks.

The Results

• Sarah's productivity returned to normal levels
• Team collaboration improved
• Sick days reduced from 4 per winter to 1
• Other team members felt more comfortable discussing mental health
• The company adopted these practices as standard winter procedures

The Bottom Line

SAD is not just a personal challenge—it's a workplace issue that demands attention and action. In today's evolving work landscape, addressing SAD effectively requires a partnership between employers and employees.

By implementing these strategies and maintaining an open dialogue, organisations can create a more supportive, productive environment during the challenging winter months.

Remember: Supporting mental health isn't just good practice—it's good business. When we take care of our people, we create stronger, more resilient organisations ready to face any season.

Expert Support: How In-House Health Can Help

Managing SAD and a whole host of workplace health challenges requires expertise and a systematic approach. This is where In-House Health, led by Emma-Louise Fusari, comes in.

Our Comprehensive Solutions:

• Identify risk in your organisation by benchmarking and assessing the quality and effectiveness of operational frameworks that support workplace health promotion
• Help you to lead a healthier team by training senior leaders and managers to look after themselves and better support their teams so that they can improve business KPIs and OKRs
• Implement data-informed behaviour change by collecting employee health data that enables us to identify the root cause of work-related ill health and prevent future risks

Why Partner with In-House Health?

• Evidence-based approaches tailored to your organisation
• Comprehensive support from assessment to implementation
• Cost-effective solutions that show measurable results
• 20+ years of healthcare expertise

Take the First Step Toward a Healthier More Profitable Workplace

Don't wait for winter to impact your team's health, wellbeing and productivity. Contact Emma-Louise today to create a workplace that thrives in every season.

Get Started Now:

Book a FREE initial chat where you’ll leave with one thing you can take away and implement in your business for improved health impact.

https://calendly.com/inhousehealth/wellbeing-strategy