The holiday season is an exciting, but often stressful, time for businesses across various industries. With the surge in demand comes increased pressure on employees who work tirelessly to keep operations running smoothly. 

From retail and logistics to hospitality and customer service, each sector faces unique challenges during this period. Ensuring your staff feels supported, valued, and prepared can make all the difference – not just in maintaining productivity, but in fostering a positive work environment during the busiest time of the year. 

In this post, we’ll explore some strategies to help you support your employees and keep morale high throughout the holiday rush. 

1. Implement flexible scheduling to accommodate personal needs. 

During the holiday season, hourly employees often juggle work responsibilities with personal commitments. Implementing flexible scheduling can greatly alleviate stress by allowing employees to manage both work and personal life effectively. Consider offering shift swaps, part-time options, or the ability to work from home if possible.

Flexible scheduling not only supports employees’ personal needs but also demonstrates that the company values their well-being, which can boost morale and reduce turnover rates significantly.

2. Provide extra incentives and bonuses.

The holiday season can be financially straining for many. Providing extra incentives and bonuses can be a motivating factor for employees to maintain productivity and customer service quality. These can include holiday bonuses, gift cards, or additional paid time off.

Another idea is to provide transportation stipends for employees that are working late shifts or on the holidays. Giving employees a ride to or from work can be that extra incentive to pick up a shift, and it also goes a long way in showing your appreciation for them. 

3. Make sure you’re adequately staffed. 

One of the biggest things you can do to avoid adding strain to your team is to make sure you’re adequately staffed up for the busy season. Failure to plan ahead and factor in upcoming time off requests and busier-than-usual shifts can make your team feel overwhelmed and frustrated. 

Hiring seasonal workers can reduce the burden on full-time staff. Ensure seasonal staff are well-trained to handle the increase in guests, without putting extra pressure on regular employees. 

Setting your seasonal hires up for success starts with a strong onboarding process. You can have all new hires complete the required paperwork right from their phone with CareerPlug’s Onboarding and Team Management solution. This will also help ensure you don’t miss any important steps and can help you get your seasonal staff up to speed sooner, so they can start taking some of the burden off your other employees. 

4. Offer mental health support and resources. 

The holiday season can be mentally taxing due to increased workload and personal pressures. Offering mental health support and resources can make a significant difference in employees’ lives. This can include access to counseling services, stress management workshops, or mental health days.

By prioritizing mental health, companies show that they care about their employees’ overall well-being. It goes without saying that this is an important part of being a good place to work. And being a good place to work makes it easier to hire and retain great people. 

5. Create a positive and inclusive work environment. 

A positive and inclusive work environment can make a world of difference, particularly during stressful times. Encourage a culture of inclusivity where every employee feels respected and valued. Organize team-building activities, use inclusive language, celebrate diverse holidays, and acknowledge individual and team achievements.

6. Recognize your employees’ hard work. 

83% of employees feel recognition affects their motivation to succeed. This is especially true during times when employees are busier and more stressed than usual. 

Acknowledging your employee’s contributions makes them feel seen and valued. Some ways you can recognize your employees during the holiday season include: 

• Personalized thank you notes or holidays cards  
• Holiday parties or team events 
• Public recognition and shout-outs 
• Surprise treats or meals 

Improving employee retention throughout the year 

Making a noticeable effort to support your employees during the busy holiday season is not only kind, it’s also a great retention strategy and can help you build a loyal and motivated workforce. 

Having empathy and creating a supportive environment are a big piece of the retention puzzle. It’s important to always ask employees for feedback on how you’re doing, and make changes based on their opinion and experiences. 

With a little extra support, you can make the most of the busy holiday season, growing your business and growing your team!