3 top tips for making the summer holiday season less stressful
The summer holiday season is here and, as schools across the UK break up for the year, it’s important to be aware of the effects this can have in the workplace.
For some, work diaries get lighter, yet for others they fill up as they cover colleagues on annual leave and manage the challenges of childcare and hybrid working through the summer holidays.
While greater communication, flexibility and encouraging good boundaries to protect personal wellbeing are essential to maintain staff wellbeing, productivity and avoid burnout, there are some considerations needed.
For those covering understaffed teams, it’s important additional support is provided as the influx of holidays (even if just for the summer period), can leave some employees feeling more stressed and facing increasingly higher workloads. Employers can implement a range of initiatives to support their overall physical and mental wellbeing.
3 top tips for supporting employees this summer
1. Be vigilant and listen
Regular checks, both in-person and online with workers can ensure employers are listening to the challenges of their teams closely and can help to stop potential issues sooner.
Increasing communication is key during busy periods. It’s win-win, as teams feel supported while, for managers, it’s a good way to watch for signs that may indicate an employee is struggling or displaying early warning signs of burnout.
Conscientious staff sometimes take work devices with them on holiday and managers should look out for this and reinforce the importance of switching off.
On their return, it is equally as important to make sure those employees back from holiday are not overwhelmed by their return to work. Setting up a structure whereby a colleague is designated the task of emailing any updates to the employee the day before they return to work can alleviate the overwhelming feeling of scrolling through hundreds of unread emails.
It may also lessen the likeliness of feeling stressed immediately after returning. Allowing greater flexibility on the first day back to catch up with progress and emails can mentally be important.
2. Get out of the office
Employers must make sure employees are able to get outside each day. Regular breaks, whether they are working remotely or in the office, can make a huge impact on an employee’s wellbeing and productivity.
Remote working employees should be encouraged to sit outside to eat their lunch, work out in the garden or exercise outside when they would usually do their commute to work to create a healthy work life balance.
For those working in the office, walking can be a great way to alleviate stress and improve physical symptoms including neck, back and shoulder aches. Walking meetings and time away from screens can also build increased engagement while benefitting health.
3. Employee benefit packages are key
Signposting your employee assistance programme is imperative all year round. But the summer can be a great time to remind team members of resources available and how to access them. These can range from counselling to financial wellbeing support.
It’s important for employers to highlight that these services aren’t just there for when things go wrong, but to support with guidance and help with day-to-day conerns to prevent them becoming bigger worries and challenges.
Supplied by REBA Associate Member, MetLife
At MetLife our aim is to help businesses prepare for the future, perform at their best and protect their people.
