It’s here again … the most wonderful time of year that usually comes with a healthy dose of stress. A time when we get even busier than we even thought possible. Don’t get me wrong. I love a good holiday party and festive yuletide gathering, and nothing beats the joy of an entire season dedicated to reconnecting with family and friends. But the time in between these events is enough to make even the most organized individual a little worse for the wear.
We have shared our thoughts throughout the year that there really is no such thing as work/life balance. That all aspects of life—work, family, friendships—will inevitably collide and not in equal fashion. So it goes without saying that right now, our employees are probably feeling stretched a little thin. Some business owners I speak with attest to a lull in productivity spanning Thanksgiving to the New Year, implying that their employees have decided to coast the year out. I can’t help but think that the drop in productivity is due to external factors—traditional work hours paired with amped-up personal responsibilities (parties, shopping, travel, even the extra traffic)—not laziness.
As employers, we feel some responsibility in ensuring our teams feel appreciated and loved during the holiday season and feel energized to kick off another year in just a couple short weeks. How do we do that at Mom Corps? By making sure that we are living our company value of “responsible flexibility.” It’s the gift that keeps on giving! (And quite affordable I might add.)
Aside from the obligatory holiday extras, what about extending employees flexible holiday hours or a remote workday or two, to accomplish all they need to get done. This allows them to be better focused at work where they are there. When employees don’t feel overwhelmed with the to-dos of online shopping or menu planning, they can actually be present at work.
I challenge all of us to embrace flexibility for your organization as we close out the holidays and launch a new year. I guarantee that a few flexible hours here or there and maybe a remote working day or two will do wonders for employee morale. And your employees will likely return the favor with a much-needed boost in productivity to finish the year strong.
I look forward to hearing your experiences. Happy Holidays!
By Allison O’Kelly, founder/CEO of Mom Corps, @AllisonOKelly
Tags: Flexible Cultures