Omer Glass’ Post

The holidays are a joyful, but hectic time! Finding ways to manage the frenzy of year-end activity that so many of us face both in the office and at home, can create heightened levels of stress in the very period when we’re told we should be full of holiday cheer. In this article, my Forbes Human Resources Council colleagues and I share some of our tips on how you might balance your time to avoid feeling like the Grinch this year! https://lnkd.in/giU5Ziit

With the holiday season rapidly approaching, it’s the perfect time to rethink how we’re working. Here are three ways to stay productive and enjoy the season—without burning out: 1. Set Boundaries and Honor Them Define your work hours and stick to them. Protecting your time means you can be fully present at work and at holiday gatherings! 2. Prioritize What Matters Most Focus on high-impact tasks and let go of the “busy work.” Streamlining now frees up time for what matters during the holidays—both personally and professionally. 3. Take Breaks to Recharge The best ideas often come when we step away. Block time for rest and relaxation, so you’re recharged and ready for both work and celebration. This season, let’s make balance our gift to ourselves. #WorkLifeBalance #HolidaySeason #WorkSmart

The holiday season is upon us. With year-end deadlines and personal holiday responsibilities, it can feel like a marathon for many of us. It’s no surprise that many employees feel drained and stretched thin. Recharging your energy is critical during this time, as it helps prevent burnout while maintaining productivity. According to Gallup, workplaces that encourage recharging activities, such as flexible work hours or festive team-building events, see 35% higher employee satisfaction even during high-stress periods. A simple 5-minute recharge, whether it’s stepping outside for fresh air or enjoying a holiday-themed team activity, can go a long way in restoring energy. Leaders should also remember the ripple effect of their energy management. When managers model healthy habits — like taking breaks, setting boundaries, and encouraging downtime it inspires employees to do the same. Collective energy replenishment leads to stronger team dynamics and a smoother transition into the new year. 🛠️ Practical Tip: Incorporate short team check-ins to address holiday stress and identify ways to ease workloads. Even small gestures like encouraging personal days can help employees feel valued. What are your go-to energy boosters during the holidays? Share your thoughts below. #HolidayBurnout #EnergyManagement #BurnoutPrevention #WorkplaceWellness #EmployeeWellBeing

As the holiday season approaches, it’s easy for the festive spirit to turn into holiday stress—especially for employees trying to juggle year-end deadlines, family obligations, and everything in between. Great leaders don’t just recognize this; they take action. Here’s how you can step up and help your team avoid the holiday burnout trap: 🎯 Set Clear Priorities: The end of the year can feel like a mad dash to the finish line. As a leader, help your team focus on what truly matters. Prioritize tasks that need to be done before the holidays and push non-essential projects to the new year. Clarity reduces stress. 💬 Encourage Open Communication: Make it easy for your team to talk about their workload and any concerns they have. Regular check-ins can help you spot burnout before it happens. Show your team that it’s okay to speak up and that their well-being comes first. ⏰ Promote Time Off: Encourage employees to take the time off they need. Lead by example—if they see you stepping away to recharge, they’ll feel more comfortable doing the same. Remember, rested employees are more productive and engaged. 🎉 Spread the Cheer: Bring some holiday spirit into the workplace. Whether it’s through virtual events, small gifts, or simply acknowledging their hard work, a little appreciation goes a long way in boosting morale. This season, let’s focus on creating a balanced, supportive environment where employees can enjoy the holidays without burnout. Happy teams make for a happy workplace, and that’s a gift that keeps on giving. #Leadership #EmployeeWellbeing #HolidaySeason #PreventBurnout #WorkplaceCulture #TeamSupport

Thanksgiving is next week 😱 As the holiday season approaches, workplaces often face the perfect storm: year-end deadlines, team members taking well-deserved time off, and the allure of holiday distractions. It’s a challenging balance—but also a unique opportunity for leaders to demonstrate empathy, flexibility, and focus. Here are a few strategies to avoid becoming a Grinch and helping your team thrive during this busy time: 🎯 Prioritize Ruthlessly: Not everything can (or should) be done before year-end. Help your team identify high-impact goals and let go of the rest until January. 🎁 Celebrate Progress: The end of the year is a natural time for reflection. Highlight accomplishments, big and small, and acknowledge the effort your team has put in. 📆 Plan for PTO Proactively: Encourage team members to share their time-off plans early and build a clear coverage strategy to avoid last-minute surprises. 💡 Focus on Energy, Not Just Time: Acknowledge that holiday distractions are inevitable. Instead of fighting them, schedule work sprints during peak focus hours and allow for flexible, shorter days when possible. 🤝 Set the Tone: Leaders set the example. Model a balanced approach by taking time off yourself and showing appreciation for the team’s hard work. The holiday season doesn’t have to feel overwhelming—it can be a time to rally together, take stock of the year, and step into 2025 refreshed and aligned. How does your team manage the holiday crunch? I’d love to hear your strategies! #EmployeeWellness #Holidays #Productivity #Leadership #EmployeeEngagement #WorkLifeBalance

The holiday season can bring both joy and stress, particularly in the workplace. Meeting end-of-year goals and deadlines can significantly impact employees' mental well-being and productivity. Companies play a crucial role in supporting their workforce by minimizing unnecessary stressors. 💫The pressures from work can exacerbate existing personal stressors, creating challenges in both personal and professional realms. HR professionals and leaders need to proactively communicate about available employee assistance benefits and provide guidance on workload management, especially during the holidays. Doing this can reduce the likelihood of workers experiencing burnout which can harm productivity, increase errors, and reduce engagement, contrary to the organization's goals. 💡Employee assistance programs offer valuable resources, including financial wellness information, crucial during the season of heightened expenses, so they should be encouraged to be utilized for employees in need of help. Prioritizing employee well-being not only benefits individuals but also enhances organizational performance and morale. 🗣️Two easy ways for leaders to assist in reducing employee work stress include: 1) Asking about their workers needs: ask how they're doing and how you can best support them. 2) Offer help: provide guidance on work management strategies, employee assistance program referrals, flexible work arrangements, and or help from other available staff with lighter work loads (if possible). While this time of year can be challenging for many, sometimes just knowing you are not alone and that you have others rooting for you can make a world of difference, so let's support our workers. ❓How do you believe we can best assist employees during the end of year holiday stresses? Share your thoughts below. #holidays #stress #burnout #workload #workculture #management #transformationalleadership #employeeassistance

When employees rely on holidays to recover rather than celebrate with their family & friends, it's a clear red flag. If your employees are simply counting down the days until their next break to escape from exhaustion...you need to examine your culture and get honest about the issues. Holidays should be a time to celebrate and unwind, not just a way to recover from burnout. In a healthy organization, well-being is prioritized alongside productivity, creating a culture where employees feel energized and supported year-round. Let's shift our focus from merely surviving the workweek to thriving together! How do you support your team's well-being? Share your thoughts

“No vacations. No sick days. No exceptions.” Really? This notice from an unknown company is doing rounds on the internet today, and it stopped me in my tracks. It’s a stark reminder of how workplace culture can sometimes prioritize output over people. A policy like this—banning vacations, time off, and even sick days during a busy period—doesn’t just ask for "all hands on deck." It sends a message: Your health, your personal life, and your well-being are secondary to the bottom line. Yes, we all understand that peak business seasons come with their challenges. But at what cost? Life doesn’t pause for deadlines. People get sick, families need support, and burnout is real. Here’s what organizations need to consider: ▪️Employee well-being is non-negotiable. Exhausted employees are not productive employees. ▪️Empathy builds trust. Supporting your team during tough times creates a workplace where people WANT to show up and perform their best. ▪️Planning prevents burnout. Transparent communication and better resource allocation can prevent the need for extreme policies like this. As we approach the holiday season—a time meant for rest and family—policies like this remind us how critical it is to rethink our approach to workplace culture. It’s time to put people first. What are your thoughts on policies like this? How can organizations meet business demands without sacrificing employee well-being? Let’s discuss. Amber Cowburn Armoogum Parul Gupta #WorkplaceCulture #EmployeeWellbeing #Leadership #WorkLifeBalance #RespectForEmployees #EmpathyAtWork

Holiday breaks are GREAT, just as any break is. For all the positives about stepping away from work for a few days, there are some potential negatives that companies and management should try to avoid: 1️⃣ Backlog Anxiety: Employees might worry about the work piling up during the holiday, leading to stress before and after the break. Returning to a full inbox or urgent deadlines can diminish the restorative effects of the time off. 2️⃣ Unrealistic Expectations: Holidays can create additional pressures, such as financial strain, travel, or social obligations, which may offset the benefits of time away from work. 3️⃣ Short-Term Relief: If systemic issues like poor management, toxic workplace culture, or excessive workloads persist, a holiday break only temporarily alleviates burnout, without addressing root causes. How to Maximize the Benefits of a Holiday Break: 🥇 Encourage Boundaries: Urge employees to fully disconnect from work during their time off. 🥈 Plan Ahead: Help teams prioritize tasks and manage workloads leading up to the break to reduce stress upon return. 🥉 Show Gratitude: Use the holiday season to recognize employees' contributions, which can boost morale and engagement. ✨ Support Post-Holiday Transition: Consider lighter workloads or flexible schedules immediately after the break to ease employees back into work. #BurnOut #Moral #Retention #WorkPlace #Hr #HumanResources #HrTech #Performance #PerformanceManagement #MentalHealth #EmotionalHealth #EQ #Priorities #Holiday #Thanksgiving #Holiday #Break

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