Keep your staff happy this Christmas

Jingle all the way – it’s that time of year again! Whilst we eagerly anticipate Christmas throughout the year, it can very quickly become a stressful period in the workplace. Businesses face the difficulty of trying to create a fun working environment whilst ensuring productivity doesn’t fall as a result. So what can you do to help? Here are our four tips for keeping your staff happy and motivated over the Christmas period.

Allow flexible working

We’ve all experienced the mad rush to book the festive period off work, but those who don’t make the cut may be left feeling demotivated. To avoid this, pulling names out of a hat is an easy way to create a fair system and avoid appearances of favouritism. If you can, paying overtime on key dates will help sweeten the deal. Some may even prefer to work for the extra money. If that’s not feasible, think about what other treats would keep your employees happy. A box of chocolates never goes amiss!

Alternatively, consider whether your business could allow flexible working. With shopping to finish, family gatherings to prepare for and the inevitable long journeys to visit loved ones, flexible working saves employees a lot of unnecessary stress. It gives them time to run last minute errands, meaning they’re less likely to worry about their personal obligations during their working hours. If this isn’t possible, giving the option to swap shifts or leave early for other commitments is a good compromise.

Reward hard work

Christmas is a time for giving and coming together to celebrate. It’s the perfect time for businesses to take a step back to recognise and reward the hard work of those who go above and beyond. Reflect on your achievements as a team, celebrate your turnover numbers or highlights from the year. Take them out for lunch, or put time in to make sure your appreciation is heard. Recognising determination can help improve staff morale and set a positive premise going into the new year.

Spread the Christmas cheer

‘Tis the season to be jolly! Take the Christmas tree out of the dusty cupboard and put some festive tunes on the stereo. Making a Christmas playlist is a great way to get everyone involved in the festivities. You could even run a Christmas decorating contest or get everyone to vote for their favourite Christmas film and watch all together after work.

The festive period can be the busiest time of the year, so it’s important to keep spirits high and stress levels low.

Organise a Christmas social

Amongst all the hustle and bustle, it’s important to make time to get the whole business together. This doesn’t have to be anything extravagant, but simply something outside of the day-to-day environment. After a hectic few weeks, allow yourself to unwind and celebrate achievements together. After all, it’s important to maintain a healthy work-life balance.

‘It’s the most wonderful time of the year’, so don’t let work dampen the magic. Happy staff will work harder and bring better results, so it’s a win win all round. So, as you dive into December, take a moment to reflect and ensure your employees will have a memorable send off into the new year.