With the festivity of the holidays behind us, the upcoming winter months can be difficult. Five percent of Americans suffer from seasonal affective disorder, and more than 14 million adults suffer from depression, which can be exacerbated by short winter days.
Some things are personal and it's best to stay removed, but if you notice that an employee is struggling with life outside of work, pay attention. Not only could it signal a serious problem, but it can also spill into work life, which will decrease productivity and increase the employee's stress level.
Here are some ways you can help employees who find this time of year particularly rough.
1) Encourage Use of the EAP
Most companies have an Employee Assistance Program (EAP). This is an inexpensive way for your employees to get the help they need, when they need it. EAPs can provide referrals for therapy, financial help or legal advice, and the first visit with a specialist is often free or offered at a reduced price. Many employees forget that this is available to them, and a friendly reminder that help is available can save lives.
2) Be Flexible With Schedules
Some jobs require strict adherence to schedules, but some jobs can be done at any time of day or night. If your company's area of business allows for some flexibility, now's the time to urge your employees to take advantage of it.
Seasonal illnesses are particularly prevalent this time of year, so remind employees that the company is understanding about doctor's appointments. Preventative care should be encouraged too, so let workers take time off for annual check-ups, dentist appointments or visits to a therapist. And keep in mind—your employees may also need time to take care of family matters, like meeting with a child's teacher, or seeing a lawyer about legal matters.
Working from home may alleviate some of the pressures workers feel. And the flexibility pays off—giving your employees the time they need to take care of personal issues means they will be more focused on their work responsibilities when they're at the office.
3) Be Kind
It's the beginning of the first quarter—time to start delivering on those lofty promises made during end-of-year plans. It's a busy time for many businesses, and it's easy to get caught up in the execution. But, projects will still get done if you take the time to check in and see how employees are doing, listen to their concerns and compliment their hard work. A little kindness goes a long, long way towards ensuring employee happiness.
Photo: Creative Commons
Ressources similaires
Vous souhaitez continuer à apprendre ? Découvrez nos produits, les témoignages de nos clients et les actualités du secteur.
Témoignage de client
La planification et le partenariat simplifient la gestion des talents pour la marque de produits pour animaux de compagnie la plus populaire de Nouvelle-Zélande
Animates and Animates Vetcare, la marque de produits pour animaux de compagnie la plus populaire de Nouvelle-Zélande et l'entreprise leader dans ce domaine, est présente sur le marché depuis plus de 20 ans. Elle a développé ses activités et gère désormais 45 magasins, 28 salons de toilettage et près de 20 cliniques vétérinaires. Elle emploie plus de 900 personnes, dont des vétérinaires, des toiletteurs et des détaillants spécialisés à temps plein et à temps partiel. Animates continue de croître à un rythme soutenu, malgré les difficultés économiques, en aidant les propriétaires d'animaux de compagnie à faire ce qu'il y a de mieux pour leurs compagnons et leur porte-monnaie. Les ressources humaines de Animates, y compris le processus de recrutement et L&D, n'étaient pas en mesure de suivre le rythme de croissance de l'entreprise.
Billet de blog
Gestion des talents : comment les entreprises françaises abordent-elles 2024 ?
En 2023, les organisations ont affronté une conjoncture incertaine, une inflation galopante et une pénurie persistante de talents sur des profils stratégiques. Le tout sur fond d’accélération de la révolution technologique. Dans ce contexte, la gestion des talents a vécu une année sous forte pression, avec un enjeu central pour les organisations : se donner les moyens de la transformation en matière de compétences et de capital humain.