3 Methods on How to Improve Employee Engagement During the Holiday Season

For most people, the holidays come with opportunities to slow down a bit and connect with friends and family. That’s a good thing, especially after a year we’d all prefer to forget.

The global health crisis has been challenging, and for many of us, it has come with the added stress of job loss.

In one way or another, we’ve all experienced some unexpected and unusual events in 2020, so now is the time to focus on time out and then a big push in productivity.

Employers face some unique challenges during the holiday season. Aside from focusing on a strong end to Q4, many employers see increased staff using sick time and decreased productivity.

Employ engagement also takes a hit during what should be the most wonderful time of the year.

You don’t want to earn the name “Scrooge,” but you’re not sure how to improve employee engagement. Here are three methods you can implement to keep staff morale and engagement high during the holiday season.

1. The Gift of Communication

Did you know 42% of the labor force now works remotely—full-time? Even if your company hasn’t yet made a full transition to a  work-from-home model, you’ve likely allowed some level of remote work this year.

Many employers now face an increase in communication challenges without weekly in-person staff meetings and routine paper memos. Communication helps keep everyone working towards meeting the organization’s goals.

Even if you’re forced to limit in-person contact, you must figure out how to keep employees informed of the big stuff. Your team needs to know where the company is heading. They also need to understand their role in the mission.

An excellent way to accomplish that is to increase communication from senior-level management. A top-down communication model can fortify open and authentic conversation, which is key to maintaining engagement.

2. How to Improve Employee Engagement Through Appreciation

The year 2020 may go down in the books as one of the most difficult for employers and employees. Many of us are trying to figure out how to navigate heightened levels of burnout and disengagement.

It’s a great time to pause and let your employees know you appreciate them.

Give out holiday cards with personalized messages for each employee. Let them know why you’re thankful for them.

Don’t forget recognition. Most people enjoy a verbal pat on the back (even if they blush), and it’s something you can do to foster employee engagement with little effort.

Reminders of how important they are to the company may re-ignite the fire that starts to burn out when employees disengage.

3. Haul Out the Holly

Even if you (or your team) haven’t seen the 1960s Broadway musical, you’ve heard one of the most popular songs from Mame. Decking the office with holly may not be your style, but you can find an appropriate way to create holiday cheer.

It starts with understanding the culture of your workplace. Embrace the season while remembering all the unique holidays the individuals on your team may celebrate.

Use this time of the year to reinforce the vision and values of your organization. When everyone on the team shares the vision, it brings a new level of excitement, whether you’re working in-person or remotely.

Ready to Celebrate Employee Engagement?

Even during these challenging times, employers have an array of methods they can use to keep staff focused on the mission at hand.

If you take the time to learn how to improve employee engagement during the holiday season, you’ll enjoy the gift of increased morale and productivity!

If you’ve enjoyed this post, and you want to spend time over the holidays reading more articles designed to help you and businesses be successful – we have everything you need starting with this article on how to relax your mind so you can be more productive.