As the festive season approaches, many businesses experience a unique blend of excitement and pressure. For some, December brings a welcome uplift in trade; for others, it marks the final sprint towards year-end deadlines. Whatever your sector, it’s a period that can place additional demands on your team. Investing in staff wellbeing during this time is not just good practice, it’s good business. Happier, healthier employees are more productive, engaged, and ready to step into the new year with renewed motivation.
Understand the Seasonal Pressures
The first step is recognising that the festive period can affect people differently. Some staff may feel uplifted by seasonal celebrations, while others may find the increased workload, financial pressures, or social expectations more challenging. As a business leader, acknowledging these pressures helps create an environment where staff feel able to speak up and seek support when needed.
Plan Workloads Proactively
Where possible, review workload expectations early. December’s shorter working month and the race towards year-end can create bottlenecks if not managed carefully. Consider prioritising essential tasks, postponing less urgent projects to January, and ensuring responsibilities are distributed fairly across teams. Encouraging open conversations about capacity can help prevent burnout during a period when many employees are juggling professional and personal commitments.
Encourage Staff to Take Proper Breaks
It can be tempting for teams to work through lunch or extend their hours to ‘get everything done’ before the holidays. However, ensuring that employees take regular breaks is vital for maintaining productivity and wellbeing. Lead by example where possible: if staff see managers taking breaks and signing off at reasonable times, they are more likely to do the same.
Offer Flexibility Where You Can
The festive season often brings additional family and community commitments. Providing flexible working options such as adjusted hours, remote working, or temporary shift swaps can make a significant difference to employee stress levels. Even small gestures of flexibility help build trust and demonstrate that you value your staff beyond their output.
Communicate the Wellbeing Support Available
If your business provides wellbeing resources such as Employee Assistance Programmes, mental health first aiders, or external support services, take time to remind your team what’s available and how to access it. Normalising the use of these services helps staff feel supported throughout the year, not only during challenging periods.
Show Appreciation
A sincere message of thanks can often mean as much as a formal reward. Whether through personalised messages, small tokens of appreciation, or team shout-outs, acknowledging effort makes a real difference.
By taking a thoughtful, proactive approach to staff wellbeing, businesses can ensure that the festive season is both productive and positive. Supporting your people now not only enhances morale but also lays the foundations for a strong and successful year ahead.
