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Holidays are the most wonderful time of the year. But if you ask HR managers, they would tell you a completely different story. It is that time of the year where the company culture shifts and all your employees are in a party mood which results in decreased overall productivity.
HR managers in general, have to handle a lot of workplace issues day to day. During the holiday season their responsibility to handle issues increases. Let’s find out the most common challenges that HRs face during the holiday season and understand how to fix them.
Here’s your guide to a successful holiday season at work!
The holiday season is one of the busiest times of the year for any organization and it is important for the staff to stay functional. But it is also the season where most employees take an off from their work due to many reasons like, seasonal illnesses, or having to spend time with their family, or having to utilize the remaining number of holidays before the time runs out.
This increase in absenteeism leads to decrease in overall productivity of the organization and as an HR, it is really challenging to deal with this situation.
Here’s what you can do to fix this situation. As an HR manager, you should have a clear understanding of who is regular to work and who is not. With an integrated HR solution, you can see which employees are frequently coming in late or sick. It gives you the tools to drill down and identify who is likely to cause a problem.
Also read: 5 Reasons To Start Using An HRM For Your Business
Do not make it harder on your employees either, relax a few rules. It’s holiday season, so if an employee is okay to cover another employee’s shift while they take leave from work to visit their family, allow them to do so.
Monitor attendance carefully and deal with the situation as per your workplace policies.
The office party can be a fun way for co-workers to get together and celebrate. It can either be the best time of the year or the worst for the company. No matter what, as an HR personnel, there are many things at the office party that you need to take care of, before they go out of hand.
As a party organizer, you should follow few guidelines to maintain the balance and avoid any legal issues.
A vast majority of holiday parties include alcohol, one way to keep alcohol consumption tamed is to hire third party professional bartenders who will know when to stop serving people who are excessively drunk. Before this, you have to let your employees know what is expected of them and give them clear instructions about your workplace policies against harassment and abuse.
Making inappropriate comments and physical advances towards their co-workers is one of the most common misbehavior that is seen in most holiday parties. A very effective way of decreasing inappropriate behavior at office parties is to encourage employees to invite their guests. This will help employees stay calm and balanced and maintain more professional atmosphere.
Also read: Tips To Ensure An Enjoyable Office Holiday Party
Gifting during holidays is a very common practice in workplaces. Although this practice isn’t mandatory, many people exchange gifts during holidays. Sometimes, employees experience more pressure from co-workers to contribute more than they can afford for a holiday gift. This is where you, as an HR manager should take action.
Develop proper guidelines for gift giving and place a limit on the value of the gift. This will help employees understand what to expect. Prevent overly personal gifts!
The holiday time is filled with many celebrations, meeting up with family and friends. However, this can also be a very stressful time for employees.
Employees tend to disengaged during this time because of various reasons like the weather conditions, flu season and the end of the year. This overload of work and the pressure to complete it before deadlines, makes them disengaged and unproductive during holidays.
As an HR personnel, you can help them by planning everything way ahead and encouraging them to complete their before the holiday season. Take this opportunity to show some appreciation that can motivate them to function productively under a stressful deadline situation.
There are diverse traditions world-wide. Many different events, both spiritual, religious, and tradition-based, are celebrated in many different ways during the holiday season. As an HR manager, you have to understand this fact and act inclusively.
More than just understanding about different traditions, you have to build awareness of diversity and create an inclusive holiday environment. Treat the needs of different employees about religious or holiday celebrations with flexibility.
Encourage employees to share stories about their traditions and celebrations!
What are the problems that you faced as an HR personnel during the holiday season? Share your experiences and tips with us!
Request a live demo to find out how Engagedly can help you this holiday season!
