Helping Your Team Manage Work, Wellbeing and Parenthood Over the Holidays

Ah, the festive season. It’s that time of year when work deadlines and holiday cheer collide—often with family demands rushing in to complicate things. Suddenly, your team members are juggling school plays, gift wrapping, holiday cooking, and those looming end-of-year projects. And while everyone may enjoy a bit of sparkle and mince pies, this season can be a genuine balancing act, especially for those with little ones at home.

So, how can you help your team navigate this bustling time with grace and good humour? Here are some practical ways to support them in managing work, wellbeing, and family life over the holidays, ensuring they return refreshed and ready to take on whatever the New Year brings!

Show Understanding

Many of your colleagues are not just employees; they are also parents managing a household or caregivers, providing care for elder parents. A little understanding goes a long way. Encourage open conversations about workloads and family commitments. Remind them that it’s okay to speak up about their challenges. Whether they need assistance with deadlines, a listening ear, or advice on balancing their responsibilities, being approachable and understanding can ease their burden.

Consider setting up a buddy system, where colleagues can support each other through the holiday hustle, sharing tips on managing work, home life, and everything in between.

Offer Flexibility

The holiday season often includes school breaks, family visits, and holiday events that require flexibility for working parents. Offering flexible work schedules, (where possible) such as adjusted hours or compressed workdays, can help parents manage their responsibilities while staying on top of their work.

Consider these ideas:

Shift Start and End Times: For those who need to be at school plays or run festive errands, a slight adjustment in working hours can make a world of difference.

Half-Day Options: If feasible, allow team members to take half days leading up to key holidays.

Work-from-Home Days: Even if you’re mostly office-based, a few remote days can ease the load for parents without sacrificing productivity.

Plan and Schedule

The holiday rush makes organisation more challenging but also more essential. For those balancing work and parenthood, a little planning can make a big difference. As a team leader, you can support this by encouraging open communication and proactive scheduling.

Try the following:

Shared Calendars: Consider using a shared holiday calendar to make it easier for your team to coordinate and respect everyone’s personal time. Encourage team members to let you know early on about any days they’ll need off.

Clear Handovers: For anyone going on an extended holiday, ask them to set up handovers with colleagues, so there’s no scramble to pick up the pieces upon their return.

Encouraging Team Support: Create a culture where team members can support each other when someone’s schedule changes suddenly. Whether it’s due to illness, a family emergency, or simply needing a little extra time, knowing that there’s a team behind them can give individuals peace of mind.

Set Realistic Goals

During the holiday season, it’s essential to set realistic expectations. Workload can fluctuate, and what might be achievable in November may become daunting in December. Consider reviewing project timelines and deadlines with your team. Collaborative goal-setting can be a great way to involve your team in the process, making them feel more engaged and valued.

You might wish to consider:

Task Prioritisation: If your team has looming deadlines or major projects on the horizon, think about what truly needs to be accomplished before the end of the year versus what can wait until January.

Mini Deadlines: Breaking larger tasks into smaller, manageable parts gives a sense of progress and makes projects feel less overwhelming.

Encouraging Delegation: Remind your team that it’s okay to ask for help or share responsibilities when the workload starts to pile up.

Encourage Time Off

Everyone deserves a well-earned break, especially during the holidays. Remind your team that family moments and personal time shouldn’t take a backseat – they’re just as important as any deadline. Encourage team members to plan their annual leave in advance or to set aside time on their calendars for those special family gatherings. Also, reassure them that it’s perfectly okay to switch off work notifications when they’re off the clock; stepping away is essential for recharging and maintaining balance.

One of the best ways to show this is by setting the example yourself. When managers take time off or share how they’re winding down, it encourages everyone to feel comfortable stepping back too, without the pressure of always staying “on.”

Acknowledge Their Efforts and Celebrate Together

As the year winds down, take time to celebrate your team's achievements. Whether it's through a box of chocolates, an extra afternoon off, or a team lunch. Reflect on the year’s achievements together, big and small. A short team meeting to toast accomplishments or share favourite moments can create a positive sense of closure and connection.

Here’s how to be inclusive with your festivities:

Family-Friendly Activities: If you’re hosting any end-of-year gatherings, consider making them family-friendly. This could be a virtual holiday party, an afternoon of festive crafts, or a community service project where employees can bring their children along. This can help ease the childcare scramble for your team.

Virtual Festivities: If you have remote team members, think about ways to celebrate inclusively, like an online party or a festive trivia session.

Mindfulness and Wellbeing Initiatives

The holiday season can feel festive and frantic all at once. For many, it’s a time of joy but also stress, pressure, and sometimes even loneliness. Encouraging employees to check in with themselves and prioritise their mental health can help them cope better with stressors that come with the holiday season.

You could offer:

Wellbeing Resources: Send out reminders of any mental health resources or benefits your organisation provides, such as counselling services, meditation apps, or helpful articles.

Informal Check-Ins: A quick, casual check-in can make a difference. Simply ask how your team members are doing and let them know it’s okay to share if they’re feeling overwhelmed.

Time Away from Screens: It’s easy to get glued to emails, especially when juggling so much at once. Encourage your team to take regular breaks, go for a walk, or unplug for short periods. It’s amazing what a 10-minute breather can do.

The holiday season should be a time of joy and connection, not stress and overwhelm. By taking proactive steps to support your team in managing work, wellbeing, and parenthood during this busy time, you’ll help create a more positive and productive environment. So, let’s embrace the festive spirit together, keeping wellbeing at the forefront and making this holiday season one to remember for all the right reasons.