Ways to Support Your Team’s Health & Wellness During the Holidays
Wellness could be said to come from a healthy mind, body and soul — and during the holiday season, each of these three parts of us is at jeopardy of being overused, overspent, and straight-up stressed out. Many of us spend most of our waking hours at work, so this is an opportunity for you as a leader to show your team that you care by offering some special perks and events that support their wellness.
A bit of employee appreciation can go a long way to help your staff feel vital and supported during the busiest time of the year. Here are some simple, inexpensive ways to support your team’s health and wellness during the holidays.
Offer free or discounted flu shots for employees.
What a great perk to offer your employees to help keep them vital this season — a free flu shot! If you can’t offer a shot that’s completely free, even a discounted offer will be appreciated by many. It works out for your benefit too: fewer people getting sick this winter means fewer call outs and sick days you’ll have to make up for.
Share the love! Create a recognition or “acts of kindness” board.
Doing good for someone else makes us feel good ourselves and can even make us feel happier, and spreading good cheer around the office is a sure-fire way to keep people’s spirits up and keep stress at bay. If your office doesn’t already have one, post a recognition board in a shared space, like a breakroom, where people can post thank yous and shout outs to others at work. Or better yet, create a holiday-themed “acts of kindness” board where people can post good deeds they’ve done or what others have done for them.
Donate to a local charity or organization.
Employees become more engaged when their employers contribute to their communities. It can foster a sense of community involvement and service, and give employees a sense of alignment with your organization on a deeper level than just a paycheck. Plus, charitable giving might just be plain good for our health. Since the holiday season is all about giving, this is the perfect time of year to choose a local organization in need of donations and start a collection bin in your office. Boost employee involvement and let the rest of the world know you’re taking positive action by sharing posts of the donation effort on social media and your company blog or website.
Offer employees a mini-massages day.
What a wonderful way to show appreciation for your employees at the end of the year. A free massage to smooth out the kinks and stressors of the season — while at work, no less! If it’s within your company’s budget, bring in a massage therapist or corporate service to give 5- or 10-minute chair massages for your team in a breakroom or conference room. The mini-spa treatment will not only relieve physical strain and aches; it will also provide your team with a mental mini-vacation from the usual daily routine.