Ah, it’s that time of the year of again. The Philippines is also known for having one of the longest holiday seasons in the world. When September is near, you can see various memes of Jose Mari Chan—one of the most popular singer-songwriters for Christmas carols in the country—popping up on every social media.

And because of how important holidays are in Filipino culture, even in the workplace, a lot of employees are invested during this time. But while some people feel the holiday spirit and are looking forward to the celebrations, some employees feel the opposite. So, how can you support employees who are experiencing holiday blues?

 

4 Ways to Support Employees Who Are Experiencing Holiday Blues

Support your employees’ mental health

This holiday season is not just a festive time, but also one of the most stressful times for the organization. You have to take into account various year-end activities such as parties, events, and corporate giveaways. There are also deadlines you need to meet and quotas you need to achieve before you replace the calendar for the new year.

Because of these demands compressed in the remaining months of the year, employees who are already experiencing holiday blues are more affected. To support them, you have to support their mental health.

Supporting employees’ mental health is not just good for your employees but also for your organization. It’s a fact that mental health issues affect businesses. According to the U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), some aspects that are affected by poor mental health and stress are job performance and productivity, engagement with one’s work, communication with coworkers, and physical capability and daily functioning.

So how can you support your employees’ mental health? In a previous blog post, we mentioned 5 ways you can do so:

  • Educate your leaders and employees about mental health.
  • Have wellness programs for your employees.
  • Encourage open and inclusive communication.
  • Provide professional support if you can.
  • Let your employees take a break.

 

Communicate more with your employees

To support employees experiencing holiday blues, communication is the key. Learn how to spot the signs. And when you do notice them, communicate. Or at least, letting them know that you’re there whenever they need it.

Having a culture of inclusivity can help your employees trust you more, therefore allowing them to better express their feelings when they’re feeling down.

And, you don’t even have to give advice when your employees do open up and communicate with you. Just listening to their problems and how they feel—without belittling what they’re experiencing—is already a big help.

 

Do engaging activities

To support employees experiencing the holiday blues, it’s important to keep engaging them.  One common symptom of holiday blues is the feeling of loneliness. You can combat this by doing engaging activities.

You can also invest in an Employee Assistance Program (EAP), which, according to the Society of Human Resource Management (SHRM), is a “work-based intervention program designed to assist employees in resolving personal problems that may be adversely affecting the employee’s performance.” EAPs, like the ones our affiliate, Emovation, offer, don’t only support employees who are experiencing holidays but also the general mental health in the workplace.

For more information about Emovation’s Employee Assistance Programs, reach them through their Facebook page, website, or via email at care@emovation.ph.

 

Align visions and goals

Give your employees something to look forward to by aligning your visions and goals. This allows them to take their mind off of the coming holiday season and instead anticipate the future.

In case it’s difficult for your employees to think of major goals, encourage them to list minor ones, and celebrate it. For example, their goal could be as simple as buying a new shirt or a pair of shoes. It could also be successfully cooking their favorite dish.

 

Holidays can be hard for some of your employees. But with the proper support from you, it could be better.