The holidays can be stressful, leading to anxiety and even depression. It is important to ensure your employees feel supported so you can help alleviate some of that stress.
Big Health shares the following tips to help support employees’ mental health during the holiday season.
- Foster open communication. Create a safe environment that encourages employees to speak openly about mental health. This could include hosting workshops or webinars about mental health awareness or providing resources.
- Be flexible. The holidays can be overwhelming when people have many personal commitments. Offer flexible work hours or remote work options to help employees reduce stress.
- Encourage time away. Tell employees to take the time off they need, allowing them to recharge without feeling guilty.
- Promote stress reduction. It can help to organize stress-reducing activities in the workplace, such as yoga sessions or mindfulness workshops, to provide outlets for relaxation and self-care.
- Set realistic expectations. Avoid piling on extra work and additional stress by setting realistic expectations and deadlines. Encourage employees to let you know when they are feeling overwhelmed.
- Promote a positive, inclusive workplace. Celebrate diversity and recognize that different cultures observe holidays differently. Everyone should feel included and respected.
- Seek and be open to feedback. Regularly seek feedback from employees about your company’s mental health initiatives and use the feedback to improve the initiatives.
- Recognize and appreciate. Foster a positive workplace by regularly recognizing and showing appreciation for employees’ efforts and achievements, which can help boost morale.
- Train managers. Be sure to help managers develop the skills needed to recognize signs of mental health struggles; have compassionate conversations; and direct employees to available resources.
Did you know NRCA offers mental health resources? Visit NRCA’s Mental Health webpage to learn more. Be sure to also check out NRCA’s webinar recording, Navigating the Holidays: Tools for a Mentally Strong Season.
