It is common to notice a slump in employee engagement in the leadup to Christmas and this year it may be even more prevalent. The festive season symbolizes the end of the year and a well-deserved rest in the case of most employees, which may be more prominent in 2020 – the year that seemed to last a Millenia. Given the incredibly challenging year the world has faced, employee engagement may be at an all-time low this Christmas as people are eager to finally be able to put their feet up.
In addition to people’s excitement for this disastrous year to be over, there may also be a wellbeing issue that needs to be addressed. What is usually a period of good food, good drink and lots of cheer has been perhaps tainted by the implementation of a tier system and the intricacies of forming a Christmas bubble. This may mean the festive period is one filled with anxiety this year rather than joy, potentially causing a decrease in employee engagement.
So, how can you keep your employees engaged this Christmas?
Be flexible – This year, our employees have shown a great deal of flexibility in being able to adapt to the everchanging regulations and this is a great time to return the favour. December is often the busiest period for a number of organisation’s meaning annual leave is often limited or not allowed for this time. You could consider letting employees take a day’s annual leave in order to finish their Christmas shopping, wrap their presents or just take a day to relax in what can often be a stressful time of the year. This can help people get things ticked off their to-do lists, taking some of the pressure off during the festive season.
Spread some festive cheer – You may find that people will need some extra encouragement to get in the festive mood this year. Making an effort to adapt your workplace Christmas traditions into COVID-friendly activities may help to raise spirits over what may potentially be quite a challenging time for many. This can really help to bring your people together and show them you value their hard work.
Communicate – Everyone will be dealing with this pandemic in different ways and taking the time to open lines of quality communication can help you to understand people’s personal circumstances. By obtaining an understanding of their situation this Christmas, it can help you to identify any additional support they may need this year. You may have employees that have been working from home since the first lockdown in March that are feeling isolated as a result. With the days getting shorter and gloomier, it is important to promote a culture of open communication in order for these employees to access any support they may need.
Offer coaching – With December often being the busiest month for businesses, it can become very overwhelming for employees. This can cause them to feel disheartened and unmotivated. By offering additional coaching, you can support your employees in areas they may be struggling with, hopefully preventing them from becoming overwhelmed. By taking the time to address any issues your employees may have relating to their roles, it can help ensure that they feel appreciated and listened to.
There are many things that you can do to support and motivate your employees during the festive period. Need help with this? Get in touch with us at HRRevolution! Drop us an email at hello@hrrevolution.co.uk or call 0203 538 5311.
