Q&A: Celebrating and supporting employees through the holidays

All of these will only compound the stress that many employees feel around the holidays, which is why it’s imperative that employers step up to offer additional support. With employees working remotely, however, employers will have to get a little more creative with their wellness and support programs.

Related: Work parties look far different now

Corporate wellness expert and CEO of HealthKick, Erika Zauner, recently shared some insights with BenefitsPRO on what HR teams can do to help their employees this holiday season.

How has the holiday season changed this year with regard to workplaces and companies’ plans?

Holidays in the workplace typically come with big company parties, team gift exchanges, sweets and ugly sweater parties, music in the office, decorations, and a general feeling of celebration and togetherness. Bringing people together physically this year is something most companies are not doing, but that does not mean that the holiday season has to be a bust. In fact, since we’ve been stuck at home for so long, now more than ever people want to celebrate, especially because many aren’t able to travel or see family and friends for bigger get-togethers. As 2020 comes to a close, employees need support more than ever, leaving opportunities for organizations to support their teams and approach the holidays in an unprecedented way that fits with all the changes that 2020 has brought with it.

Some HR leaders and small business owners are stuck on what to do to keep the season feeling special. Do you have any advice for them?

There are a few key questions HR leaders should think about as a first step, including: What do your employees like to do? What are their home lives like? Are they all based in the same time zone? If you have a small team of foodies, consider hosting a virtual class. Have the ingredients and drinks delivered to your team members’ homes and then invite everyone to sign in from their own kitchen–no matter where it is.

The same can be done with a mixology class, too, if your team has a lot of people with sensitive diets or allergies. Just make sure you aren’t inviting your San Francisco-based team for a mixology class at 2 p.m. or having your New York team staying up really late for a different event.

If you have a big team or are lost for what they will actually want, feel empowered to ask for their input. Sending out surveys or bringing up the discussion during a team meeting can give an HR team or manager an easy start to the planning process. With this approach, each and every team member will feel like they participated in planning which will help build excitement and engagement. If you are not keen on making this an agenda item for your next meeting, think about a submission contest and vote on the best ideas through a Google poll.

How can companies re-allocate their holiday party budgets to support employees this year?

Help your employees get into a good headspace–and think beyond Christmas week. The holidays can be stressful with traveling–or canceling travel–buying gifts, cooking, and so much more. This year, the stress levels have certainly increased and people are scrambling to figure out how to make their plans and do them safely.

It’s natural that when our schedules get busy and we have a lot of big tasks on our to-do lists, self-care can take a backseat or be forgotten entirely. If that happens, HR teams will start to see burnout and a drop in productivity levels – but that can be prevented. Encourage your team members to prioritize wellness and give them a time to put themselves first. A yoga or stretch class or guided mindfulness sessions are great ways to bring employees together. If you want something a little more active, get your team moving with a dance cardio or boot camp class.

Also, companies are undoubtedly saving money on a fancy holiday party, but organizations can still use this money in a way that will be meaningful for employees. Give everyone a holiday “care package” with a gift card for a week of meals from a popular delivery service for food or fitness class. A lot of our clients are giving employees HealthKick credit to use toward their favorite health and wellness brands on their own time.

Think ahead to 2021, too. Wellness and showing appreciation for your employees should not only happen during the holiday season. Consider spreading out your usual party budget to set up classes or virtual events that will benefit employees throughout the calendar year–whether it’s one yoga or mindfulness class per month, subsidized meals the last Friday of the month, or another idea. HR teams should not only celebrate their employees during seasons that are already merry–but also throughout the year when they really need the support.

Read more: 

• Addressing employee mental health during the holidays
• Holiday cheer: ‘tis the season to focus on employee well-being
• 3 easy, cost-effective ways to help employees feel safe and financially secure this holiday season