Ways To Keep Injecting A Little Cheer Into The Workplace During February By HR Caddy

Longer nights, colder weather, illness and isolation still during February. These are just a few of the factors that can take the Winter Blues to the next level in the workplace.  Whether your team work in an office, on the shop floor or even a factory, it is not uncommon for employees to feel a little down during right up until late Winter, Early Spring. 

In more extreme cases, some of your people may even suffer from SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder). A type of depression, it comes and goes in a seasonal pattern, but is usually associated with the winter months.This is a serious condition affecting up to three in 100 people in the UK at some point in their life. Whether an employee is experiencing the Winter Blues or is just a bit under the weather, it is important that employers continue to offer assistance. 

Not only do you have a legal obligation to protect the health, safety and welfare of employees, but the UK is also experiencing a labour shortage, with over a million vacancies across the nation. Here are 5 tips for injecting a little cheer into the workplace by Nicola Callaghan, the MD of HR Caddy.

Be flexible

The winter is often a time of illness, not only for your staff but also for their loved ones. Allowing your team to care for their family by being flexible with their shifts or work arrangements could make a massive difference.

This could be something as simple as allowing a staff member to leave work early to go see a doctor or letting an employee work from home when looking after a child or vulnerable family member.

This isn’t a permanent shift in their work arrangements, so it shouldn’t require a formal agreement. However, employers will want to monitor their employee’s work patterns and requests to ensure that this flexibility isn’t abused.

Employees seeking long-term flexibility should make a more formal request, known as a statutory application. This is only available if a person has worked for the same employer for at least 26 weeks.

Keep the team fit and healthy

There are many small steps that employers can make to help their team keep fit and healthy.

These could range from something simple as providing free fruit high in vitamins D and C (which are essential to bolstering immunity) to going as far as offering private healthcare, as well as a range of measures in between.

Employers should also remind their staff to get fresh air, regular rest and sunlight, even during the coldest months, as they can have a big impact on mental health.

Some workplaces have even gone as far as to appoint dedicated mental health paramedics. These are trained colleagues who can listen and offer advice to those suffering from mental health issues.

Don’t neglect remote workers 

Despite many employees returning to the workplace since restrictions were lifted, hundreds of thousands of workers are still at home or working under a hybrid system.

Employers should involve them in activities and make the effort to host regular meet-ups, either online or in-person, to ensure remote workers don’t feel isolated from the rest of the team.

Although it may be their choice to work from home, you still have a responsibility to them and their well-being.

Improve the work environment 

Many workspaces aren’t naturally inspiring places. However, as the winter months drag on, employers may want to think about how they can bring some festive cheer to the workplace.

Decorating the office for Christmas and New Year is a small step that many employees appreciate, even if they do not celebrate the holiday themselves. For many, it signals the end of another year.

But why only celebrate Christmas? Speak to your team to see whether any other celebrations should be marked and spruce up your workspace to match their requests.

Host a party 

For many, the Christmas or end of year party had to go on hold in 2020. However, evidence suggests that many employers will be rewarding their team’s hard work this year with a celebration – often either a meal out or a fun activity.

Although parties can be a good way to raise spirits, they also have the potential to be an HR nightmare for employers.

Employees should take the time to remind employees of their expectations and set ground rules. It is best to treat parties as an extension of your workplace and ask employees to abide by similar rules.

Seek help 

If you are struggling with a workforce afflicted by the Winter Blues, then it may be best to seek expert HR advice.