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Plan December Workdays Smartly for a Merry Christmas
As the year-end approaches and Christmas draws near, everyone longs for some peace and celebration. People love to reflect on their successes and happily acknowledge that they have worked hard this year.
This is also the time when it's essential for companies to show their gratitude towards their employees. In our next blog post, we will reveal how to do this effectively. Today, our focus is on organizing holidays and work schedules for the festive season. Stay with us!
The Harsh Truth
About 13 percent of employees don't feel the year-end rush, as they typically have significantly less work during this period. Many of them work in production, as larger manufacturing companies often shut down for more than a week at the end of the year, pausing not only their main activities but also office work. In contrast, 33 percent are very familiar with the December hustle: they experience no reduction in workload at any time of the year. Which category do your employees fall into? Does the workload pile up at the end of the year? Do your colleagues become extremely overloaded by December? What could be the solution? Here are some practical tips and tricks!
Everyone Wants Time Off at Christmas
In addition to the workload, the work atmosphere is also affected by the fact that everyone wants to take time off simultaneously. The solution can be quite simple: Find out well in advance who wants to take time off and when! It often happens that colleagues with families plan their vacations around Christmas, while younger employees save their leave for New Year's Eve parties. Ideally, this solves the work scheduling issue.
TIP:
As a leader, if possible, allow your team to organize the holiday work schedule independently! This not only facilitates smooth work processes but also increases employee satisfaction. Giving employees the freedom to decide when to use their annual leave enhances their loyalty to the company.
Just Let January Come...
Some industries, such as service and retail, experience the year-end rush the most. Increased traffic in stores is noticeable well before Christmas, often responded to with extended opening hours. While this serves customer convenience, it can be extremely burdensome for employees. What is more important for us? Naturally, both. Employees can be compensated with overtime pay or other bonuses, and hiring student workers can be a flexible and cost-effective solution for such situations.
TIP:
Hire students for packaging, sales, and warehouse jobs during the holiday rush!
December Stress Levels Are Off the Charts
It is evident that the Christmas and New Year period is very demanding for those working in retail and hospitality. The increased traffic, impatient customers, and the resulting tensions place significant physical and psychological burdens on both managers and employees. This period is also challenging for administrative workers and educators, not to mention healthcare workers. Knowing the events of 2020, everyone is more stressed than usual due to the holidays.
TIP:
As an employer, support activities and solutions that reduce stress levels! How? Read on!
- Mitigate or eliminate physical stressors: noise, extreme temperatures, overcrowded spaces, lack of ventilation.
- Implement frequent, short breaks.
- Create relaxation rooms at the workplace.
- Provide and support opportunities for sports and physical activities.
- Ensure a more balanced distribution of tasks and responsibilities.
- Review and prioritize daily tasks.
- Establish a hierarchy of importance.
