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It's back to work

Beat those winter blues

Now that you’ve packed away the tree and polished off the turkey, it’s time to get back to work. But, for many employees, returning to work at this time of year can often bring a sense of emptiness, anxiety and de-motivation.

Did you know: January is, by far, the month with the highest level of sickness absence, with sick leave averaging half a day per person for the month. (UK Sickness Absence Survey, Mercer Consulting)

Psychologists even have a fancy name for it: post-reinforcement pause. What this actually means is – ‘a slump’ after all the fun and good stuff – going back to ‘normal’ life. You may have also heard the terms ‘post-holiday blues’ or the ‘winter blues’.

In light of this, we’ve put together a short guide packed with useful tips to help your employees beat those ‘winter blues’ – so that you can look forward to a great start to a productive New Year.

• Set realistic resolutions. Line managers could set up one-to-one meetings throughout January, where employees have are encouraged to set both personal and work-related resolutions. Remember... resolutions need to be (S)mart (M)easurable (A)chievable (R)ealistic (T)ime based.
• Give your employees something to look forward to. Arrange a monthly team outing. It could be to see a play or for lunch, whatever you decide make sure it’s something that all team members are interested in.
• A clear workspace makes a clear mind. Encourage your employees to start their first day back to work by tidying their work area. This will help them feel more organised and ready to tackle the New Year.
• Positivity starts at the top. If management returns to work with a more positive outlook to the New Year, chances are that your employees will also do the same.  So maybe start off with greeting your employees with a welcoming smile.
• Set up a Corporate Gym membership. This option allows you to contribute to your employees’ health. Exercise is believed to increase the release of the brain chemicals that affect our mood and make us feel happier.

As part of Ceridian's Ceridian LifeWorks EAP offer, we propose a Work-Life service that provides support for your employees. To talk to one of our qualified experts, call us on 0800 0482 737 or contact us online and we'll call you back.