The holiday season is nearly upon us!  You and your employees will soon be preparing for all the upcoming festivities. We’ve found ourselves contending with a pandemic that kept many families separated for the holidays in recent years. As things begin to open up and more people get vaccinated, many of us wonder what this holiday season will look like. 

Look no further than this article if you are looking for ways to boost employee morale during the holidays. Here at iSpace Office Interiors, we understand the importance of employee morale. Employees with high morale are more engaged, proficient, and more highly motivated. Using these tips, you can keep your employees feeling positive as the holidays approach. Let’s get started!

Why It’s Important to Boost Employee Morale During the Holidays

Although the holidays are a time of celebration, this may not necessarily be the case for everyone on your team. Often, the holidays are stressful for many employees, filled with extra pressure and additional responsibilities outside of work tasks. For this reason, it is your responsibility as a business owner to boost employee morale and encourage a positive attitude as much as possible.

According to the American Psychological Association, employees with low morale are less engaged. Additionally, they tend to suffer from increased rates of depression and heart disease. As an employer, boosting employee morale during the holidays will not only lead to improved performance from your employees but will also lead to stronger employee retention. So, now that you know the importance of employee morale during the holiday season, what can you do to keep things at an all-time high? Let’s find out.

1. Spread the Christmas Cheer

Believe it or not, studies show that music can enhance your employees’ productivity and feelings of well-being. One of the best ways to spread holiday cheer is to play your staff’s favorite holiday songs. Just be wary not to overload them by playing the same playlist on repeat. Additionally, do your best to be culturally sensitive by picking out a diverse playlist of music that won’t leave anyone feeling alienated. This is a surefire way to boost employee morale as the holidays approach.

2. Practice Good Communication

As you have navigated the changes that the pandemic has imposed, it’s likely that you’ve already found yourself increasing the frequency of communication in your office. As the holidays approach, however, you should put in the effort to keep this up. Send email check-ins to keep your team up to date while showing them that you are there for support. 

At the same time, if you’ve put less emphasis on practicing good communication with your employees, the holiday season is the perfect opportunity to pick things back up. It would help if you also encouraged your employees to give you feedback that will help in keeping the work environment positive for everyone.  

3. Reflect and Express Gratitude

It’s vital that your employees feel seen and appreciated. As one of the most critical components of boosting employee morale, use this holiday season as an opportunity to reflect on all the ways that your staff has accomplished the goals you’ve set for them. Recognize individual employees for their performance and do so frequently. When your team feels as though you are observant of their hard work despite the challenges, they will feel more motivated to overcome those challenges. 

4. Hold Holiday Office Contests

One of the best ways to get your employees in the mood for the holiday season is seasonal office contests. A little healthy competition among your staff will not only boost morale but also introduce the opportunity to gather together and strengthen the bond between your employees. Encourage your employees to enter a holiday baking contest and offer an incentive that will excite them, such as a gift certificate. You’ll be surprised to see just how much a little fun can boost employee morale in a meaningful way. 

5. Encourage the Spirit of Giving

The holiday season is for giving. There are plenty of organizations out there that could use donations, especially during this time. Even if you can’t organize large-scale volunteer excursions right now, you can still encourage the spirit of giving in your employees. Meet with your employees to choose an organization or cause that you can rally around. Working together for a good cause will leave your staff feeling better about themselves and the impact they’re able to make. 

Encourage a Healthy and Happy Workplace This Holiday Season

At iSpace Office Interiors, we specialize in helping you create a healthy and harmonious workplace that brings out the best in your staff. One of the best ways to boost employee morale is to offer a work setting where they can feel comfortable and productive. We have various designs in chairs, workstations, or complete office suites to choose from, and they can make a real difference in how your staff feels on a day-to-day basis. To learn more about us or request your quote, call us today at (317) 694-7197 or (855) 356-1200. Happy holidays!