The other side of Christmas

There is so much going on in the workplace before Christmas, employees can find it hard to focus on their role and performing it to the best of their ability.

There is the office Christmas party, the secret Santa gifts, getting all relevant work completed before the office closes (or not!) for the festive period.

There is the charity Christmas carol singing event, the mince pie bake off and finally the competition of who has the best decorated desk?

All a lot to contend with, especially if Christmas is a time of year or holiday that an employee doesn’t enjoy or embrace.

It’s important for organisations and managers not to view employees lack of enthusiasm for all things Christmassy as ‘Scrooge like’ but realise that there may be incredibly valid reasons for the employee choosing to abstain from participating with their colleagues.

If a manager notices one of their team exhibiting these signs, then it is right to spend some time with them, and explain what you have observed, and ask how you and the business can support time at this time.

Often over-zealous employees’ encouragement and enthusiasm for their colleagues to join in, could be viewed as bullying, clearly something that is unintentional, but nonetheless, this is how this behaviour is perceived.

Managers should be vigilant with their teams and pick up on any underlying currents between colleagues and their attitude and conduct around this time of year.

There is also the issue of finances that comes to the front of many employees’ thoughts.

Christmas can be expensive, and the pressure to buy family members and friends gifts can be quite overwhelming, along with the additional social expenditure associated with the Christmas season.

As an organisation, you could consider bringing December’s pay day forward or indeed, January’s.

Talking of January, are there incentives or benefits that the organisation can offer, that will help employees manage their finances through this traditionally tough period?

And finally, one of the best things an organisation can have and promote in the run up to Christmas and going forward into the New Year is an Employee Assistance Programme or EAP.

Christmas is not all smiles and laughter for your employees, and so to enable them to have the best opportunity at a great 2020, having this provision, ready and available, could be invaluable.