Dive Brief:

• Holidays are supposed to be fun, but for employees they can also be very stressful -- especially concerning work-life balance, according to The Greeley Tribune.
• While managers and HR professionals are not required to help employees manage that stress, they can help foster a positive atmosphere that can maintain morale and keep stress at a minium for employees during the holiday season.
• The article adds that by keeping employees on a more even keel, that also can help keep productivity from dropping (even though it's going to happen due to holiday distractions).

Dive Insight:

Author Kyra Kudick, of J. J. Keller & Associates, Inc., a compliance resource provider, offers several tips that can help keep stress levels to a minimum. She advises: HR and employers to be accommodating and flexible in terms of employee work hours; be proactive and transparent about schedules (so there are no surprises); watch for stress warning signs; be mindful of personal life events; be empathetic in communication, and finally, be open to outside assistance.

For example, in the area of scheduling transparency, make sure workers know who will be off and when, Kudrick writes. A public calendar or shared digital calendar might be a good idea. When keeping an eye out for stress, factors such as increased absenteeism or lateness, irritability, withdrawal, impatience or a lack of tolerance, overt sadness or anxiety could signal it's time to ask an employee if there are problems and if they need help.

Most of all, ensure that if managers sense an employee is struggling, there are opportunities to ask what may be happening. There may be alternative ways to manage their work duties and deal with whatever is stressing them at home. If a company has coaches available as part of a wellness program, maybe they can help here too, Kudrick writes.