According to ONS data, there was a 138% decrease in productivity from Q3 to Q1 2024 in the UK, highlighting a drop in productivity during the Winter period.
Supporting this, a survey conducted by Toughened Glass Systems found that 1 in 3 workers surveyed reported that both the cold weather and illness affected their productivity at work factors that can have a knock-on effect on company goals and operations.
Reboot Online provided tips on how employers can help keep their employees motivated during the run-up to Christmas and into Q1.
How Employers can motivate employees during the Winter Months:
- Make Yourself Available
Managing time and workload is important for all employees in an organisation, especially management. December is a busy month with organisations finishing up their work for the year, so it’s easy to get overwhelmed and overlook your duty of supporting your team. Ensure that you organise your time effectively so that you have time to check in with them. This could include regular 1-1’s, giving feedback on tasks and (if necessary) reallocating workload, which should fuel the team with drive and positivity and address any concerns before they grow.
- Offer a Flexible Work Schedule
If this is appropriate, incorporate a flexible working schedule into the workplace, which enables employees to work their usual agreed hours but at a time that suits them. This can reduce stress and give employees more time for personal errands, increasing their focus and engagement during the workday.
- Flexible Work Goals
Let your team set some personal work targets for the final weeks. They’re more likely to stay motivated and productive when they feel ownership over their goals and objectives. Consider letting them pick one professional goal they’d like to complete by the end of the year (such as learning a new skill that’s different but applicable to their field) and support them in reaching it.
- Encourage Professional Development Opportunities
Offer short, engaging workshops or online courses your team can complete in an hour or less. Whether it’s a time management technique or a new tool, providing learning opportunities with tangible benefits for the next year shows your commitment to overall team growth and keeps them productive and engaged.
- Give the Gift of Recognition
Consider sending personal ‘shout-out’ messages, company-wide emails or newsletters that recognise individual and team achievements highlighting how their efforts contribute to the company’s success and shared goals. These can provide a quick, sincere boost to morale and motivation. Not only this, personal acknowledgement fosters a positive environment and reinforces each person’s impact on the company’s achievements.
- Shorter, Focused Work Blocks
Encourage your team to work in short, highly focused blocks with regular breaks. Use a time-blocking method (such as the Pomodoro Technique that splits working sessions into 25-minute blocks followed by a five-minute break) for increased focus and productivity, especially as energy levels may dip during this time of year.
- Create a ‘Done by Christmas’ Task List
Break down larger projects into smaller, manageable tasks to complete them by Christmas. Visual aids, like a large, shared checklist, can help employees stay on track and give a satisfying sense of accomplishment as they check items off.
- Festive-Themed Incentives for Achieving KPIs
For employees who hit key performance indicators (KPIs), offer festive rewards, such as bonuses. Providing incentives can help employees stay focused on their goals and feel more of a sense of achievement.
- End-of-Year ‘Declutter Day’
Encourage everyone to declutter their workstations and digital files in preparation for the New Year. A clean workspace helps employees feel refreshed and come back to work feeling ready and motivated to hit the ground running, boosting motivation and reducing stress.
- Streamlined Meetings
Keep meetings short and focused, especially as attention spans can wane closer to Christmas. Opt for stand-up meetings, focused agendas, and clear action points to maintain productivity without taking too much time.
Joanne is the editor for Workplace Wellbeing Professional and has a keen interest in promoting the safety and wellbeing of the global workforce. After earning a bachelor's degree in English literature and media studies, she taught English in China and Vietnam for two years. Before joining Work Well Pro, Joanne worked as a marketing coordinator for luxury property, where her responsibilities included blog writing, photography, and video creation.
