It can be hard for employees who are working over Christmas – especially when you see smug people posting on Facebook about how they are going to spend their two-week break from work. Unfortunately, though, some businesses cant close down completely over Christmas. The hospitality industry is a sector that works hard all year round, as do the NHS and other care institutions. So what can you do to help make your workplace as jolly as possible and ease the stress of your hardworking employees? Read on for our top five tips.
Keeping The Festive Spirit Alive
It can be hard to capture the festive spirit in the workplace – especially for those who are working over the entire holiday. It is possible though, with a little bit of imagination…
1. Christmas decorations
Some businesses don’t bother with decorations as they might see it as a waste of time or unnecessary. We think a tree and some tinsel are must haves though! You spend a long time in your place of work and putting up trimmings will invite in that special Christmas feeling and make employees feel less glum! It doesn’t have to cost much either – fairy lights and trees are available very cheaply!
2. Festive food and drinks
What better way to reward hardworking employees than setting out some festive food for them while they are at work? There is a multitude of different things you could do, from getting a professional caterer in, to buying a load of festive treats from the supermarket. Or you could take employees out for a Christmas lunch to the pub. If your budget is small you could ask employees if they want to do a ‘pot luck’. Don’t shy away from having a little office tipple too! A glass of wine to celebrate the last day of work perhaps?
3. Christmas jumpers
You may have missed Christmas jumper day (it was the 14th this year) but that’s no excuse! If you and your colleagues are working over the festive period then you might as well go the whole way and dress up too. It’s amazing how silly jumpers can lift the atmosphere! It doesn’t have to stop there – you could have a competition for the worst jumper or wear reindeer antlers, dress up as elves?! The options are endless.
4. Secret Santa
Buying individual gifts for colleagues can be awkward and you end up with people left out so why not do secret Santa instead? Again, it can be tailored to how much people are willing to spend. You can even do a £1 secret Santa – challenge employees to find the best gift they can for a quid! Save present opening for the period between Christmas and New Year – the time people grumble about having to work.
5. Christmas music
People may moan and groan at the thought of Christmas music but we all secretly like it! Playing some festive tunes will keep the atmosphere festive and fun. You could have an office vote for your favourites and the worst songs. Use a streaming service like Spotify to build your own playlist. If you make the playlist public so employees can find it, each person could add their favourite song!
Don’t Work Too Hard
Time for a bonus tip! The Christmas gift that your employees will appreciate the most is probably a nice relaxed week that isn’t too taxing. Easier said than done but try to help your team to manage workloads so that you aren’t too busy over the Christmas period. For example, can you up production the week before Christmas so that employees can take it a little easier Christmas week?
Try your best to create a festive and relaxed atmosphere and your employees won’t mind the Christmas period so much.
Get in Touch
Looking for even more ideas on how you can make your workforce happy? Why not consider introducing a wellbeing programme into your organisation in the new year? Contact us here for more information, or call us on 0808 178 0748 where one of our expert team will be delighted to chat
We can offer specialist advice on a wide variety of health topics and how to support your own organisation, and we have years of experience and a depth of knowledge that you can draw from to make the most of the programme becoming a long-term solution to the health and wellbeing of your workforce.
