Help Your Employees with Holiday Stress

For many workers, the holidays aren’t just about joy and celebration; they’re also a time of overwhelming stress. Between juggling work responsibilities, family obligations, and financial pressures, it’s no wonder that over half of employees (53%) say they feel more stressed than usual during the holidays, according to a recent Monster poll. Even more concerning, 22% report that their overall well-being declines during this time of year.

Why the Holidays Are So Stressful

The holidays bring a unique mix of challenges that can make an already busy schedule feel impossible to manage. Monster’s survey revealed that the top stressors employees face during this season include:

• Financial stress (24%). Gift-giving, travel, and festive activities add up quickly. It’s no surprise that a third of employees (34%) are considering second jobs to make ends meet.
• Time constraints (20%). Balancing work with holiday shopping, decorating, and event planning can leave little time for anything else.
• Family commitments (19%). While family gatherings are meaningful, they often come with their own pressures, especially when paired with demanding workloads.
• Self-care struggles (17%). Many employees put their own needs last, leaving them drained.
• Increased workload (14%). End-of-year deadlines and seasonal tasks often create additional pressure.

Even when companies shut down for the holidays, work-related stress doesn’t necessarily stop. Nearly 41% of workers admit to checking their email daily during their time off, with 23% sending work-related messages.

For many, the inability to disconnect is a major contributor to burnout.

What Employers Can Do to Help

Employers play a critical role in helping employees navigate holiday stress. Here are a few practical steps you can take this holiday season to ease the burden on your employees and boost the odds that they’ll be able to enjoy the holiday season:

• Create clear boundaries around time off by discouraging emails or work during holiday breaks.
• Consider offering small financial bonuses or providing resources like financial counseling to ease monetary concerns.
• Allow flexible schedules or remote work options so employees can better manage holiday responsibilities.
• Provide tools and resources to encourage self-care, such as mental health support or stress management workshops.

By recognizing the unique challenges of the holiday season, employers can create a more supportive environment that helps employees feel seen and valued. In turn, employees will be more likely to come back from the holidays refreshed and ready to tackle the new year.

Sometimes, small gestures of understanding can make all the difference.

Lin Grensing-Pophal is a Contributing Editor at HR Daily Advisor.

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